Some of the Southern gal's parents were astounded when they were told that Oramel's intense loyalty to the Union cause made all the students make a declaration to the North. Thismay have resulted in some attendance drop. The Ladies Loyal Union…
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…
Charlotte Maconda Maginnis, daughter of Jeanette, was born March 12, 1863. She became known as the prima donna in New York, where she studied and performed in famous operas until she married William Wellington Walters of New York City. Pictured is…
Bela Lyon Pratt, one of Sarah's sons, was born December 11, 1867, in Norwich. At 16, he attended Yale School of Fine Arts and later became a teacher at the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He is credited with 175 impressive sculptures,…
The second daughter, Sarah Victoria Whittlesey, born May 23, 1831, also taught at the Music Vale Seminary. On July 31, 1858, she married lawyer George Pratt of Norwich, where they lived for many years before moving to Kansas City, Missouri. Sarah and…