# J. F. Whittlesey — Elmer Gantry character guide

> J. F. Whittlesey in Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Whittlesey

**First appearance:** 0003-chapter-i

## Who they are

An old friend of the Gantry family.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

Oldest faculty member; questions whether he would become a preacher if young today.

### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xxi)

Grieves at Ishuah Rogers' funeral, comforted by Elmer.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/vii)

Deeply shaken by the death of his lifelong friend Ishuah Rogers; finds reassurance in Elmer Gantry's presence.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/vii)

The elderly husband, with thin hands and a thin white beard, is part of the couple Elmer addresses; his wife later refers to him as 'Fabian'.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/old_j_f_whittlesey
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters