First Europeans and settlement The first European to enter the Mission Valley was Catholic missionary Father Respari, of the Oblate Fathers, in the 1850s. He lived among the Wenatchi people for twenty years teaching them his religion. He was succeeded in the 1870s by Jesuit missionary Father Urban Grassi who built the St. Francis Xavier Mission in 1873. After the missionaries' departure, the valley was next settled in the 1880s by ranchers and squatters. There were enough settlers in the area to necessitate the construction of a one-room schoolhouse in 1886. This sparse settlement was later known as Old Mission, after the Catholic missions of past. George Kline opened the first store further down the valley in 1888 to serve the burgeoning ranch population. A post office was soon established and Kline was appointed postmaster. The town was named "Mission" after the early missionaries.An Illustrated History of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan Counties, State of Washington. Spokane, Washington: Western Historical Publishing Company, 1904. Print.
first europeans and settlement the first european to enter the mission valley was catholic missionary father respari of the oblate fathers in the 1850s he lived among the wenatchi people for twenty years teaching them his religion he was succeeded in the 1870s by jesuit missionary father urban grassi who built the st francis xavier mission in 1873 after the missionaries' departure the valley was next settled in the 1880s by ranchers and squatters there were enough settlers in the area to necessitate the construction of a one-room schoolhouse in 1886 this sparse settlement was later known as old mission after the catholic missions of past george kline opened the first store further down the valley in 1888 to serve the burgeoning ranch population a post office was soon established and kline was appointed postmaster the town was named "mission" after the early missionariesan illustrated history of stevens ferry okanogan and chelan counties state of washington spokane washington western historical publishing company 1904 print