Lucas Countyans were, as a rule, feeling good about themselves during the fall of 1900. The economy was flourishing and Spanish American War successes had left behind a patriotic glow.
The candidates at the top of the national tickets that year were Republican William McKinley, virtually undefeatable in his quest for a second term because of the general state of the nation, and William Jennings Bryan, Democrat. Theodore Roosevelt, just 42 and polishing his image as the ultimate Rough Rider, was the GOP candidate for vice-president.
On the state level, Denison's Leslie M. Shaw, Republican, was running for another term as governor and Logan's James C. Milliman, another term as lieutenant governor. Lieutenant governors always have been forgettable --- and, it would appear from the following report, that the editor of The Chariton Patriot, Lucas County's Republican newspaper, had forgotten Mr. Milliman's name (and identified him as J.C. Williams).
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As September turned to October that fall, Liberty Township Republicans gathered at Oakley, now almost a ghost town, then a thriving village, to organize themselves into Lucas County's own incarnation of the Rough Riders --- a mounted unit of some sixty volunteers, male and female, formed to campaign for Republican candidates. Here's The Patriot's report, published on Oct. 4, 1900, of its organization:
The Liberty township Republicans have organized at Oakley a "Rough Riders" Uniformed Cavalry Club of 40 members. The officers are: Captain, C. Cottingham; First Lieut., R.D. Piper; Second Lieut., James Robinson. The ladies have also a club of 20 members who are ready to parade on horseback.
It is the intention of the club to appear in full force at the meeting to be held at Oakley on Saturday evening, October 12, when the lieutenant governor of Iowa, Hon. J.C. Williams (actually J. C. Milliman), will be present and address the people.
The Liberty Republicans are certainly to be commended for their public spirit and enthusiasm in the campaign. It is always a sign of good citizenship to see a live and proper interest taken in political affairs by any community. The whole danger, and the only one, is apathy and indifference in public business on the part of the people.
That fine company of "Rough Riders" is not an indication of the spirit of "Militarism," which so disturbs the sleep of Mr. Bryan, but an encouraging sign of a healthy and vigorous public spirit, which taking nothing for granted, questions with intelligent discrimination the promises, predictions and history of political parties. That is precisely why they are all going to vote for McKinley and the whole Republican ticket this year.
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At mid-month, The Patriot was able to report upon a successful rally at Oakley by the Rough Riders --- clad in Khaki uniforms and looking fine --- and a follow-up ride from Oakley down to Cleveland to put in an appearance at a rally at the Miners' Hall led by Monroe County's Nathan E. Kendall. The Rough Riders were in demand for rally appearances elsewhere in the county, according to The Patriot.
In the weeks that followed, the McKinley-Roosevelt ticket emerged victorious; in the year that followed, McKinley was assassinated during September of 1901, thrusting Roosevelt into the presidency. Roosevelt named Iowa's Gov. Shaw secretary of the treasury, a post he held until 1907.
There were no further reports about the Oakley Rough Riders, however.
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