Francis Marion Briggs was born in Coleman County on April 11, 1869, to Elias Briggs and Eliza Anna (Jones) Williams (see Elias Briggs).  Francis went to school in Coleman County, and his friends soon referred to him as F. M. or Frank.  He was an excellent swimmer, and as a child, enjoyed going down to Hog Creek, a tributary of the Jim Ned, to fish and swim with his friends.  Frank enjoyed riding and helping with the stock on the farm.  Frank could relate many stories of Indian raids, and as a small child, could remember his mother telling him not to cry, or the Indians would hear him.  The last Indian raid in the county occurred around 1875.

     Around 1898, the Briggs family moved to Crockett County.  On January 2, 1900, Frank married Ollie Williams, a school teacher.  Frank provided for his new wife as a wagon freighter.  He would haul supplies to the Red River area and into New Mexico.  His marriage ended in divorce, and when he married the second time, he married Margaret Evelyn Sylvester (Maggie).  Maggie was eighteen years his junior and just the opposite of Ollie.  Maggie had little formal education.  Frank is remembered to have remarked, "It is better to have little education than to be an educated fool."  Maggie was born January 26, 1886 in Travis County, the daughter of James J. Sylvester of Texas and F. Emma Briggs of Texas, but whose parents were from Illinois.  Jim and Emma were married in Travis County February 17, 1874.  Frank and Maggie lived in Leaday in Coleman County in the early part of their married lives.  Frank worked hauling freight, farming, and he also worked on a railroad.  Maggie worked hard to provide a home for Frank and their six children, Ila Edward, born March 13, 1904, Ozona; Percie Lee, born April 19, 1906; Luddie Eliza Ann, born June 5, 1909-died 1917, Beyers; Emma Gertrude, born January 26, 1912, Sherwood (see Jessie J. Pinkston); Marion Kenneth, born 1919, Collinsville; and Mattie Melissa (Barbara), born May 9, 1921, Whitespur.

     In the 1930's, Frank moved his family to New Mexico.  They lived in Roswell, in Chaves County, and Maggie caught pneumonia and died on March 15, 1934.  Maggie was buried in the Roswell Cemetery.  The family continued to live in Roswell until the fall and then returned to Coleman County.  Frank continued to reside in Coleman County until his death from heart failure, November 14, 1941, buried in Coleman.