Debs was born on November 5, 1855 in Terre Haute, Indiana to French immigrants from Alsace. His father came from a wealthy family, and owned a textiles factory as well as a small butcher's market. Although Debs did attend public education as a youth, he dropped out of high school at the age of 14 and began to work for Vandalia, a railway company, as a painter and car cleaner, but was later given a higher responsibility as a locomotive fireman.