𝚂𝚒𝚖𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗

Simon Pearson was born into a family of whale hunters, and for much of his youth he intended to carry on the family tradition. By the time he finished school, however, the whaling industry had sharply declined, forcing him to look elsewhere for work. Pearson eventually enlisted in the United States Navy, though it is unclear how long he served. During this period, he traveled extensively, visiting distant regions such as Java and Sumatra. He often spoke fondly of his naval years, even recalling being stranded at sea for fifty days aboard a vessel afflicted with plague.

Before 1897, Pearson fell into significant financial difficulties. His fortunes changed when Dutch van der Linde and his gang intervened, rescuing him from loan sharks. In return, he joined them as their butcher and cook. At camp, Pearson took charge of provisions and was also available to craft upgraded equipment and improvements for those willing to contribute supplies.