3. Roosevelt went West to recover from his grief and depression
Following the 1884 Republican National Convention, in which Roosevelt made an impression which was in many ways politically controversial, he announced his retirement from politics and moved to a ranch in North Dakota. For perspective, it should be considered that Custer had been defeated just eight years earlier, and the towns were still very much of the Wild West image. Roosevelt arrived carrying a knife from Tiiffany’s, rifles custom-built and engraved, and in costume presenting him as very much an Eastern dandy. From his ranch at Chimney Butte on the Little Missouri River, he learned the tasks of a cowboy, and he built a second ranch, which he named Elkhorn.
In 1886 Roosevelt was at the ranch when his boat was stolen and quickly vanished down the Little Missouri. Roosevelt and two hired hands hastily put together a raft and set off in pursuit. When they caught the three thieves Roosevelt disarmed them, kept watch over them with his own shotgun, and escorted them to Dickinson, North Dakota, where he learned there was a reward offered. He collected the promised $50 and returned to his ranch. Roosevelt wrote several magazine articles and three books describing his life on the ranch, though he did not remain there year-round, having interests in New York which required his attention.