Mission, WA

Initially inhabited by Native Americans the first white settlers, Jesuit Catholic priests, came to an area past the confluence of the Columbia River (Chelan County) and Wenatchee River. A missionary named Father Respari in an effort to convert the Native Americans of the area built a one room log mission. The area became referred to as Old Mission, Mission, or Mission Valley. Father Respari was later suceeded by Father Grassi.

More white settlers started arriving in the valley in and around Mission. Many areas in and around the valley are named after the early settlers. Here are the names of a few; D.S.Farrar, Frank Woodring, David Treadwell, Squire Stewart, James H. Chase, J.S. Weythman, R.A. Brown, Capt. A.S. Burbank, and Alexander B. Brender.

A post office is established and is identified as the Mission post office.

A general store opens.

Water was available to most of the farms in and around Mission by this time.

Cashmere Fruit Growers Association, Cashmere Pioneer Growers, and The Cashmere Fruit Exchange were established.

With the coming of the Great Northern Railroad. The town of Mission was platted It was discovered that other towns in Washington also used the name Mission. It was renamed Cashmere after the Vale of Kashmir in India. The idea was by Judge James H. Chase. Mission had been changed to Cashmere before 1904, but was not officially incorporated until this year on July 1st.