Who is Gideon Tucker from Moon Over Manifest and what is their importance?

Gideon Tucker is Abilene's father. Gideon has always lived on the rails and he continues to do so as the Depression takes a strangle hold of the country. Gideon and Abilene move from town to town in search of work and food, always on the move and always together. However, when Abilene is injured and nearly dies from an infection in a leg wound, Gideon becomes concerned that their lifestyle will one day lead to her death. Gideon sends Abilene to live with Shady Howard, an old friend from his brief stay in Manifest, Kansas when he was a child. Gideon has no intention of returning for Abilene, but Abilene manages to convince him that Manifest is their home.