Francis was born July 11, 1894 at “the Cove”, a farm near Orderville, Utah. He had 8 brothers and sisters and he was child #8 of 9.

His father, John James Esplin married his mother, Harriet Lenora Allen and Emily A. Hoyt at the same time. Emily and his father had 12 children, 6 of whom lived to maturity.

From Francis’ telling, it appears as though his mother was not the “preferred” mother in the polygamous marriage. In Francis’ own words:

“I was sentimental, emotional and given to crying easily over small hurts, especially to my feelings. I was called by my father and others, probably with plenty of justification a “tenderfoot”, “chickenhearted,” etc. I was very small of stature with light brown wavy hair, a mouse face. I must have been “A beautiful baby” but to my father, a rugged out-door man, faced with the stern responsibility of wresting a living for a large family from the stubborn soil and ranges, and I was just a little brat with very remote, if any possibilities of being of any economic value.

I must have been near five years of age when, upon seeing a strange man, with a large mustache, making himself at home around the place, I asked my mother who he was and was told he was my father. He had turned the farm work over to my older brothers, Ether, Marion and Joseph, and spent most of his time on the range with the sheep and cattle. Also, he had another home and family in Orderville so this was the first time I had ever come to know or remember him.”