Francis P. Ide was a resident of Dedham, Massachusetts on August 25, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. D of the 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry; he was a 32 year old farmer at time of enlistment and was mustered out July 30, 1863.

He was born about 1831 in Ashford, Connecticut to Liberty and Lucy Ann (Pollock) Ide. In the 1850 U.S. census in Windham, Connecticut, he is a 19 year old in the household of Liberty Ide. His brother, Leander J. Ide, a 7 year old in the same household, served in the Civil War in a Connecticut regiment, enlisting from Mansfield. Francis Ide married Sybil Julia Guild on December 4, 1855 in Dedham, Massachusetts. Children include: Charles F. Ide, born December 18, 1857 and Addie Maria Ide, born November 19, 1860. Sybil Julia Ide died on December 13, 1861 in Dedham, Massachusetts. He married, second, Achsah Maria Engley on October 7, 1862 in Dedham, Massachusetts. Children from that marriage include: Arthur Ide, born about 1865; Henry Ide, born about 1867; Mary E. Ide, born about 1868; Lewis F. Ide, born about 1870 and William Ide, born about 1878.

Francis Ide was living in Mansfield, Connecticut by 1870 and moved to Ashford, Connecticut between 1870 and 1880. He was a cabinet maker in Dedham, Massachusetts but turned to farming in Connecticut.

On November 12, 1881, he applied for an invalid pension, No. 433,143 that was granted under certificate No. 618,431. 

Francis P. Ide died on May 3, 1912 and is buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Mansfield.