Franz was born on 26-Mar-1895 in Trossen. Franz's father was Johann Smollich and his mother was Wilhelmine Lalla. His paternal grandparents were Michael Smollich and ? Hartwig. He was the second of four children. He had two brothers and a sister, named Johann, Herrmann and Ida. He died, at the age of 84, in 1979 in Münster.