Who is Joseph Schoene from The Distant Land of My Father and what is their importance?

Joseph Schoene is born in Tsao Chow Fu in the province of Shantung. He is the son of missionaries and never comes to the United States until he is sixteen years old. His parents return to China but he stays in the United States to attend Vanderbilt University where he meets Genevieve. They marry after his graduation in 1931 and then go to China. Joseph, who wants to help at his parents' Chantung clinic, wants to study medicine at the Rockefeller Institute in Peking but Peking is not safe at the time. When he and Genevieve arrive in Shanghai, he takes a job as an automobile claims adjuster. Within a month, both of his parents die of diphtheria. Joseph begins to import cars and makes money. He doesn't want to return to the United States as his wife does.