Who is Richard Lewis from The Glory Field and what is their importance?

The first Richard Lewis is born in 1852. He is the second child of Moses and Saran Lewis. Richard enters the narrative in the third chapter. Richard is married to Lizzy. It can be assumed that Richard Lewis is also a slave on the Live Oaks plantation. After the Lewis family is freed, Richard and Lizzy leave Curry Island in order to make money to send home so the family will be able to keep the Glory Field. The narrative states that Richard Lewis works for a time in pulp mills in Savannah and Valdosta, Georgia. Richard's son Elijah notices that his father is a very quiet man, not given to great shows of emotion. Richard never talks to Elijah about moving away from the family. Richard Lewis is, however, very softhearted.