𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚗 𝙶𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚠

Susan Grimshaw was among the earliest members of the Van der Linde gang, joining Dutch van der Linde, Hosea Matthews, and Arthur Morgan in the group’s formative years. During this time, she entered into a romantic relationship with Dutch, spending long evenings with him and often joining the gang’s poker games at his side. Their romance eventually ended, with Dutch later moving on to a woman named Annabelle. Despite this, Susan maintained a strong bond with Dutch, earning his lasting respect and becoming one of his most trusted associates. Over time, she assumed the role of the gang’s arbiter, enforcing discipline and order within the group.

Outside of the gang, Susan once fell deeply in love and became engaged to a man she described as the “best man she ever knew.” His untimely death—under circumstances that remain unknown—left a profound mark on her life.

By 1899, Susan shared responsibility with the gang’s cook, Simon Pearson, for organizing and setting up camp whenever the group relocated. In this role, she provided structure and stability to the gang’s otherwise chaotic lifestyle, ensuring that order was maintained wherever they roamed.