Leon Czolgosz was born in Detroit, Michigan from Polish immigrants. He had seven brother and sisters and the large family
moved a great deal in his early life. In 1881, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. The teenage Czolgosz worked in
various jobs, as a bottle forker and in a wire mill, among other small tasks.
His own family noticed that Leon often withdrew, would shy away from them and took long naps. After his real mother died, his father,
remarried. Leon's step-mother started to call him crazy to his face, and his own brother said he seemed to be "going to pieces." Paul Czolgosz, his father,
agreed that his son looked ill and concluded that his son should not work. Czolgosz only did odd jobs around the family's new farm outside Cleveland.
Around 1900, Leon read more and more of the socialist and anarchist newspapers that were appearing across the country. He started to take an advid interest
in the plight of the working man. A few years before, Leon had broken from the Catholic Church, believing that God had let him down by not listening to his pleas that
the workers be freed from their oppression. He quietly cheered the news of any anarchist victory.
When King Humbert I of Italy was assassinated at his summer palace in Monza by the
anarchist Gaetano Bresci, Leon cut out the newspaper stories and read them over and over again, memorizing the whole incident. To Leon Czolgosz, Bresci was a hero, and someday soon
he too would achieve something as great.
On May 6, 1901, Leon traveled to Cleveland to witness one of his most beloved speakers, Emma Goldman.
That night at the Federal Liberal Club, the famous anarchist spoke with fire to Czolgosz, though others called the speech only medicore for Goldman. After the performance, Leon worked his way through the crowd and
met with Miss Goldman. They talked briefly in Cleveland and again briefly in Chicago a few months later. Other
high-ranking Anarchists started to talk to Czolgosz, trying to find out about him, and if they could use him or not.
Abraham Isaak, the editor of the Free Society, issued a warning in his paper regarding Leon Czolgosz:
ATTENTION!
The attention of the comrades is called to another spy. He is well dressed,
of medium height, rather narrow shouldered, blond, and about 25 years of age.
Up to the present he has made his appearance in Chicago and Cleveland. In the
former place he remained a short time, while in Cleveland he
disappeared when
the comrades had confirmed themselves of his identity and were on the point
interested in the cause, asking for names, or soliciting aid for acts of contemplated violence. If this individual makes his appearance elsewhere, the
comrades are warned in advance and can act accordingly.
Leon Czolgosz was now wanted by the people he wanted to help. However, he realized
he did not need anyone's help. He already had a target. TO TARGET BACK TO MAIN PAGE
