Southwest Missionary

Education.

Father Eusebio Francisco Kino was born in the Valley of Nonsburg in the Austrian province of Tyrol, but he spent most of his adult life living in the borderlands claimed by a Spanish king. Kino was well educated. At a time when many could not read or write he studied at the universities of Ingolstadt and Freiburg, where he showed an aptitude for mathematics. Although offered a professorship in mathematics at the University of Ingolstadt, Kino had already made his decision about his life. In 1665 he joined the Jesuits in order to become a missionary, as did one of his relatives. He hoped to go to China but was sent to Mexico instead, although he stayed there only a short time.

California.

Spain claimed present-day California but had been unable to do much in the way of securing this land. The...