Roosevelt in the Bad Lands Cow Boy

The Bad Lands Cow Boy named Theodore Roosevelt in more than 80 items between June 1884 and December 1886. To the paper he was first "the young New York reformer," then a neighbor, a rancher and the chairman of the local stockmen. Its notices track his comings and goings, often within days.

Theodore Roosevelt in a fringed buckskin hunting suit and fur cap, holding a rifle

Theodore Roosevelt in his buckskin hunting suit, about 1885.

The young New York reformer

Roosevelt first appears in June 1884, staying at Ferris & Merrifield's ranch, the Maltese Cross, and hunting. On June 26 the paper reported his call at the office "in full cow-boy regalia." Packard added that Roosevelt was "perfectly non-committal on politics."

In early August the paper reported a second ranch, about thirty miles down the river, put in charge of his Maine friends William Sewall and Wilmot Dow. It was the Elkhorn.

Chairman of the stockmen

On December 19, 1884, Roosevelt called the stockmen of the Little Missouri to Roberts Hall in Medora. They formed an association and elected him chairman. The Cow Boy praised how much business he got through in a short time.

He was re-elected in September 1885 over his own objection that a resident member should lead. In April 1886 he cast the deciding vote on a divided motion and was named a delegate to the Montana stockmen's meeting at Miles City. That August he asked not to be named chairman again, and Henry S. Boice took the chair.

The boat thieves

In late March 1886 thieves took the Elkhorn ranch boat. The Cow Boy reported that Roosevelt, Sewall and Dow had gone after them. On April 15 it reported their return: they had overtaken the men about a hundred miles down the river and brought them in. By November, "Bad Man" Finnigan was serving time in the Bismarck penitentiary. Read the full story.

"Except for the big spectacles"

The Cow Boy issues for late May 1886 are lost, but one line survives because other papers copied it. The Fort Benton River Press of June 2, 1886, reported: "The Bad Lands Cow Boy says Theodore Roosevelt does his full day's work with the rest of the men, and except for the big spectacles, would pass for a cow puncher anywhere."

Newspaper clipping: The Bad Lands Cow Boy says Theodore Roosevelt does his full day's work with the rest of the men, and except for the big spectacles, would pass for a cow puncher anywhere

The Bad Lands Cow Boy issue that printed this is lost; the Fort Benton River Press reprinted it on June 2, 1886.

A Fourth of July speech

On July 5, 1886, nearly five hundred people gathered at Dickinson to hear speeches from J. A. Rea and Roosevelt. The Cow Boy reported that Roosevelt "followed with an able discussion on the duties of American citizenship." The speech, it added, "lacked entirely that spread eagle oratory."

Leaving the range

In October 1886 the paper reported: "The Elkhorn brand has been turned over to Ferris & Merrifield by Theodore Roosevelt." Sewall and Dow were leaving for Maine with their families. That month Roosevelt ran for mayor of New York, and on November 4 the paper printed his telegram to the Ferris brothers that he had lost. In December it reported him traveling in Europe with his bride.