Rev. John Whittlesey, 1780-1864, was a strong-willed Methodist minister of the sect "New Lights". He married his cousin Sally Whittelsey in Westbrook, Connecticut; note the variation on spelling. They moved to Salem in 1801, the year Oramel was born.…
In the early 1830's, Oramel's reputation as a teacher was already growing. In 1835, two young women knocked at the door and invited themselves in, stating they had come to recieve instruction, and hence, Music Vale was born. Oramel was so well liked…
The youngest daughter of Oramel and Charlotte was Karolyn (Kate) Bradford Whittlesey, born April 2, 1843. She taught harp, piano, and guitar at Music Vale. Kate never married. She moved to Topeka, Kansas, to teach music. She became head of the…
Jeanette Morgan Whittlesey, the third daughter, was born March 29, 1836, and married William Henry Maginnis, the brother of Elisabeth's husband, John. She was a talented singer, teaching voice lessons to the young women of Music Vale. Jeanette and…