Who is Jinx from Moon Over Manifest and what is their importance?

Jinx is a young boy who has been traveling the rails with his uncle since the death of his mother. Jinx and his uncle have a scam in which they convince people to buy a magic elixir that is said to cure almost anything that ails. One night a man confronts Jinx's uncle and threatens to tell the police about the scam if the uncle does not cut him in. There is a struggle and the man ends up dead. The uncle convinces Jinx that he committed the murder when he fell after being punched by the uncle. Jinx believes him and agrees to separate and run.

Jinx comes to Manifest and meets Ned Gillen. The two of them become close friends. Through Ned. Jinx finds a home in Manifest and helps the town pull off a huge scam that helps them take control of the local mine and force change. However, when Ned is killed in the war, Jinx believes it is his fault because everyone around him dies. This is how he got the nickname of Jinx. In the end, Jinx runs away because he is afraid the town will blame him for Ned's death. Abilene, who hears the story of Ned and Jinx from Miss Sadie, comes to realize that Jinx is her father and it is this belief that he is a jinx that also caused him to send her away.