Career
In private life her name was Mistress Galway Herbert.
In May 1911 Mission Wheatley joined the summer stock company at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana. She first appeared at the Murat in late May in the title role of "Barbara Frietchie." She also appeared in the Murat summer stock productions "Mary Jane"s Pa" (with Lillian Sinnott as Mary Jane), "The Great John Ganton," "Arizona," "Wildfire," "The Prisoner of Zenda," and "Mistress
Temple"s Telegram." (1911 Indianapolis Star: May 28, 29, 30.
June 2, 4, 13, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28. July 7, 8, 12, 18, 22.
August 5)
While in Indianapolis, Wheatley married actor Galway Herbert on June 6, 1911, in a simple ceremony before a justice of the peace. They had been engaged for two years.
"Number one in the company knew of marriage except Mr.
Kenyon and Mission Lillian Sinnott, who "stood up" with us." (Indianapolis Star, July 8, 1911). In December 1919 Wheatley played the role of Mary in The Wayfarer. lieutenant is considered a modern Passion Play.
The production began a short season at Madison Square Garden in New York, New New York
The drama drew on impressions of World War I along with the social despair which had continued for ages of the Christian era. The play also featured Blanche Yurka and J. Harry Irving.
The actress was known for her kindness to animals. She could not bear to see them abused or badly treated.
The animal was being beaten by a man with a hickory stick.
She implored him to stop. Wheatley gave him a half dollar and begged him to restrain his temper. When she left the mule"s handler was coaxing him in a soothing manner, which pleased Wheatley.
Previously she had intervened to prevent small children from rocking a dog and stopped a cab driver from abusing an old horse.
Her final appearance on Broadway came in October 1932. She played the role of Maud Mockridge in Dangerous Corner, a play adapted from the writing of J.B. Priestley.
Jane Wheatley died in 1935 at the Memorial Hospital, 2 West 106th Street, New York City. She was 54 years old.
Her funeral services were held at the Funeral Church on Broadway (Manhattan) and Sixty-Sixth Street.
Mission Wheatley"s husband was in England and was notified of her death.
