Francis was born on December 16, 1891 to Charles and Betty Johnson in Waterbury, CT. He was the oldest son of their seven children. Before the War Francis was employed as a wire worker at Wright Wire Company in Worcester, MA. He lived on Greenwood Street in the Quinsigamond Village neighborhood of Worcester not far from his work. Francis was drafted during World War I as a Bugler with the 17th Field Artillery in the 2nd Division. In his draft paperwork he is described as bein