Mr. Peece is the novel’s deuteragonist and a mentor figure whose personal redemption is intrinsically linked to Simon’s success. Initially introduced as an object of community scorn, “the sorriest specimen of humanity” being ejected from a saloon (19), Peece is a man whose skills and character have been eroded by loss and alcoholism. Simon, however, looks past his disheveled exterior and sees the experienced mule skinner he needs. As a dynamic and round character, Peece’s transformation is catalyzed by the trust and purpose that Simon offers him. By giving him a stake in the enterprise, a 10% partnership, Simon restores Peece’s dignity and provides him with a reason to reclaim his former competence. His journey with Simon is not just a geographic trek to Denver but a profound personal recovery from grief and addiction.

Peece serves as a crucial source of practical wisdom and experience that complements Simon’s innovative but untested vision. Having traveled the Santa Fe Trail, he possesses the knowledge of animals, roads, and survival that Simon lacks. He knows how to care for the mules, rig a wagon, and navigate the challenges of the trail. He is also a worldly-wise counselor, offering Simon shrewd advice on how to handle untrustworthy individuals, from the swindler Cleaver to Simon’s own father, Samson. Peece’s guidance is paternal, and his growing affection for Simon is evident when he consistently calls him “son.” This relationship positions him as a foil to Samson; while Simon’s biological father is defined by abandonment and betrayal, Peece becomes a loyal and dependable father figure, embodying the novel’s theme of The Strengths of Found Family.

Beneath his cynical and world-weary exterior, Peece is a man of integrity and deep feeling. The revelation that his alcoholism stems from the tragic loss of his wife and children to cholera adds significant depth to his character, explaining his retreat from a life of responsibility. His bond with his dog, Emmett, showcases his capacity for loyalty and affection even before he joins Simon. His journey is one of rediscovering his self-worth. He finds a new purpose in protecting Simon’s enterprise and, by extension, the new family they form. His delight in the auction’s success and his immediate decision to invest his earnings into a shared ranch with the others signify the completion of his transformation. He moves from a past defined by loss to a future built on shared hope and chosen kinship.

Jabeth is a key supporting character who joins the expedition as a teenager seeking freedom from enslavement, and he is desperate and starving. He evolves into a confident, essential member of Simon’s found family. When Simon first encounters him, Jabeth is a “bundle of nervous bones” who initially adopts a subservient posture (40), calling Simon “master.” His character arc is a journey toward freedom, not just in the legal sense upon crossing into the Kansas Territory but in a psychological one as he discovers his own talents and self-worth. Jabeth is a dynamic and round character whose growth is nurtured by the acceptance and respect he receives from Simon and Mr. Peece. Although he proves comically inept at herding turkeys, he demonstrates his value as the group’s official “provisioner,” using his skill with a knife to hunt and fish, ensuring their survival on the trail.

More than just a hunter, Jabeth possesses an artistic sensibility that enriches the group’s life and underscores his humanity in a world that has tried to deny it. In a moment of quiet industry, he carves a flute from a stick and plays a “haunting sound,” an act that reveals a deep-seated creativity and resilience. This talent, like Simon’s business sense, is a form of intelligence that exists outside of conventional measures. His friendship with Simon is one of equals, a bond that solidifies when he courageously rescues Simon and Mr. Peece from Samson. This act of loyalty is born not of obligation but of genuine camaraderie. Jabeth’s journey from a terrified runaway to a proud and capable “facilitator” of the great turkey walk illustrates his personal coming of age and his vital role within the theme of The Strengths of Found Family.

Lizzie enters the narrative as a traumatized and desperate figure but develops into a symbol of resilience and a vital member of the traveling community. Discovered alone in a desolate sod house, suffering from “[p]rairie madness” after burying her entire family, Lizzie is initially a character defined by loss. Her recovery and integration into the group showcase her profound inner strength. As a dynamic and round character, she moves from a state of near-catatonic grief to one of assertive capability, contributing her own unique skills to the enterprise. Her journey is not one of physical distance but of emotional healing, as she finds a new sense of purpose and belonging with Simon and his companions.

Lizzie’s intelligence, much like Simon’s, is practical and grounded in real-world knowledge. She understands the prairie environment, identifying plants for herbal tea and teaching the others how to harvest peat for fuel when wood becomes scarce. She refuses to be defined by her tragedy or treated as a fragile “damsel.” She pushes back against Simon’s well-intentioned but misguided attempts to shield her, demanding the right to contribute meaningfully to the group’s work. “Just when are you going to allow me to function as a human being again?” (163), she challenges, asserting her desire for normalcy and equality. This assertiveness is crucial for her own healing and for Simon’s maturation, as he learns to see her not as a delicate object to be protected but as a capable partner. Her literacy becomes a key asset at the end, as she helps Simon compose his final letter and the auction handbills, blending her articulate expression with his straightforward vision.

Samson is the novel’s primary antagonist and a direct foil to his son, Simon. He is a static and flat character, consistently driven by greed, dishonesty, and opportunism. His reunion with Simon is not a product of fatherly affection but of calculated self-interest; he appears only after learning of the profitable turkey enterprise. Samson’s physical strength, showcased in his circus act as “the Strongest Man in the World” (58), contrasts sharply with his moral weakness and startling incompetence. While he can lift immense weights, he is incapable of managing the turkey flock, which scatters under his and his partner Cleaver’s inept care. This failure highlights the story’s argument that true capability comes from ingenuity and patience, not brute force.

As a father figure, Samson represents betrayal and abandonment. His dramatic performance of sorrow over his wife’s death is immediately revealed as insincere, and his attempts to manipulate Simon with false paternal sentiment are transparently selfish. His actions, from befriending the swindler Cleaver to repeatedly trying to steal Simon’s flock, stand in stark opposition to the loyalty and integrity that define Simon and his chosen family. Samson’s presence serves to test Simon’s moral resolve, and Simon’s ultimate triumph over his father marks his definitive break from a toxic past and his embrace of a future built on his own ethical terms. He embodies the corrupt world that Simon and his companions are trying to escape.

Miss Rogers is Simon’s third-grade teacher and the catalyst for his entire journey. Although her physical presence in the novel is brief, her influence is profound and lasting. As a static but significant mentor figure, she is the first person to recognize Simon’s potential beyond his academic limitations. She understands that his strengths are practical and that he needs to find his own way in the world. Her advice for him “to spread [his] wings” becomes the central metaphor for his quest for independence and self-discovery (5). Unlike Simon’s family, who dismiss him, Miss Rogers sees his inherent worth and provides him with both the encouragement and the financial means to pursue his unconventional dream. By investing her life savings in his venture, she offers a powerful act of faith that validates Simon’s vision and empowers him to begin his transformation. She represents a nurturing and insightful authority, the ideal teacher who fosters growth by understanding a student’s unique talents.