Hershel grew up on a farm that had been possessed by his family for over 160 years. As a young child, he was gifted a pocket watch originally owned by his father that had been passed down to him through generations. Hershel experienced a difficult childhood and thus had a negative relationship with his alcoholic and abusive father where eventually by the age of fifteen he moved out. Hershel never let go of the grudge he held against his father and thus avoided all contact with him which resulted in him not being present at his deathbed.