Who is Gene Harrogate from Suttree and what is their importance?

Gene Harrogate is an eighteen-year-old, young for his age, whom Suttree meets at the workhouse. Looking for anyone who will be kind to him, the simple Harrogate latches onto Suttree as a friend and looks him up when he is released from jail. Harrogate's mother is ill and he has lived with his older sister up until the time this story commences. He has never had a shower in his life, and has been arrested for having sex with watermelons.