Character Analysis
Uncle Mark
Uncle Mark is married to Papa's sister, Aunt Cathie. He is the town marshal and a deputy sheriff, which makes him super cool in the Fitzgerald boys' eyes. Also he gives great birthday presents, like a real Indian beaded belt. He's pretty much everyone's favorite uncle. Like Mamma and Papa, he's an idealized version of what the adults in a little boy's life should be. Through Uncle Mark, the boys get a close-up view of what's happening in town, like when the Jensen brothers get lost in Skeleton Cave and Abie Glassman is found dying.
Mr. Standish
Tom meets his nemesis in Mr. Standish, the new teacher:
Mr. Standish let us know beyond doubt that first day of school, he was not only our teacher but our warden as well. He paddled five boys so hard they all cried. He made three girls remain after school to clean blackboards and erasers. (7.25)
There's no way Tom's going to sit idly by while this happens, and his first scheme with real consequences comes at Mr. Standish's expense when, in retaliation for being paddled, he plants evidence to suggest that Mr. Standish is a secret drinker. This is the first time Tom really goes too far—he could really destroy a man's career—and it's unlike it's a coincidence that Tom dials his antics down a notch after this.
George Kokovinis
George Kokovinis is a Greek immigrant who runs the Palace Cafe in Adenville. For five years, "Mr. Kokovinis had worked in the coal mines at Castle Rock and saved his money. Then he had come to Adenville and opened the Palace Cafe and sent for his wife and son" (5.1). Tom befriends his son Basil, recognizing the chance to make a few bucks while helping Basil become the American kid he wants to be.
Mr. Kokovinis sees through Tom, but he also sees the value in Tom's help and has no problem giving him money to help get Basil the things he needs (like Tom's own homemade slingshot) and paying him a dollar to teach Basil to beat up Sammy Leeds. Parenting sure ain't what it used to be these days.
Abie Glassman
Abie is the owner of The Traveling Emporium:
Abie traveled all over southwestern Utah with his peddler's wagon, selling merchandise to ranchers, farmers, and people living in small towns. Everybody, including children, called him Abie, because he was that type of a man—friendly, kind, and gentle. (4.1)
Amid all the Mormons, Catholics, and Protestants in Adenville, Abie is also the only Jew, and the manner of his death reveals the dangers of unconscious racism and shakes Adenville's conscience.
Papa convinces Abie to set up a small variety store in Adenville after Abie confesses that he's getting too old to travel all the time. Abie is worried about the money, but Papa brushes it off. Later, a rumor gets around that Abie has a strongbox filled with gold pieces—even as Abie quietly starves to death, too proud to beg for food and determined to pay his rent, people believe he has money because he is Jewish:
"Let me put it this way," Papa said. "It isn't that we dislike the Jews or mean to be unkind to them. It is just that we don't worry about them the way we worry about other people […] But the fact remains we let a man starve to death because nobody worried about a Jew." (6.70)
While J.D. worries about his role in this, Tom's conscience is clear because he's always shopped from Abie. He did know there was no money in the strongbox, but he didn't tell because he gave Abie his word. Tom always finds a way to be in the right, even when a man is dead.
Dr. LeRoy
Dr. LeRoy is Adenville's doctor. Treating measles, mumps, gangrene, and whatever else comes up is all in a day's work.