Higgins was born in 1864 at Hell Gate, Montana, near the site of what would become Missoula, Montana.
 He was the son of Julia Grant and Christopher Powers Higgins (1830–1889), an early Montana pioneer and the founder of the city of Missoula.
 He attended the public schools of Missoula and graduated in 1881 from the military school in Faribault, Minnesota.
 He was sent east to attend the Phillips Exeter Academy at Exeter, New Hampshire.
 
Higgins subsequently enrolled at the University of Michigan where he studied law and played college football as a forward for the undefeated 1885 Michigan Wolverines football team.
Higgins was born in 1864 at Hell Gate, Montana, near the site of what would become Missoula, Montana.  He was the son of Julia Grant and Christopher Powers Higgins (1830–1889), an early Montana pioneer and the founder of the city of Missoula.  He attended the public schools of Missoula and graduated in 1881 from the military school in Faribault, Minnesota.  He was sent east to attend the Phillips Exeter Academy at Exeter, New Hampshire.  
Higgins subsequently enrolled at the University of Michigan where he studied law and played college football as a forward for the undefeated 1885 Michigan Wolverines football team.
Frank G. Higgins