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In the story, Lucas earns enough money from a [[turkey]] shoot contest to purchase a ranch near the fictitious town of North Fork in the [[New Mexico|New Mexico Territory]], where, presumably in the 1880s, he dedicates himself to rearing his son, Mark McCain, played by [[singer]]/actor and former Mickey Mouse Club "Mousketeer" John Ernest "Johnny Crawford (born 1946). The McCains had previously lived in Enid, [[Oklahoma|Oklahoma Territory]] where Lucas' wife, Margaret (daughter of Samuel E. Gibbs) died in a [[smallpox]] outbreak<ref>(Season 5, Episode 23, "The Guest"; Season 5, Episode 24, "Old Man Running."</ref> Despite Lucas' use of his lightning [[rifle]] to settle disputes, the program is family-oriented. Lucas struggles to instill proper values in his young son, and most episodes end on an uplifting note. Mark has a special bond and affection for his father and appears in every episode of the series.

In the story, Lucas earns enough money from a [[turkey]] shoot contest to purchase a ranch near the fictitious town of North Fork in the [[New Mexico|New Mexico Territory]], where, presumably in the 1880s, he dedicates himself to rearing his son, Mark McCain, played by [[singer]]/actor and former Mickey Mouse Club "Mousketeer" John Ernest "Johnny Crawford (born 1946). The McCains had previously lived in Enid, [[Oklahoma|Oklahoma Territory]] where Lucas' wife, Margaret (daughter of Samuel E. Gibbs) died in a [[smallpox]] outbreak<ref>(Season 5, Episode 23, "The Guest"; Season 5, Episode 24, "Old Man Running."</ref> Despite Lucas' use of his lightning [[rifle]] to settle disputes, the program is family-oriented. Lucas struggles to instill proper values in his young son, and most episodes end on an uplifting note. Mark has a special bond and affection for his father and appears in every episode of the series.

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In promoting tolerance, Lucas in the third-season episode "The Queue]] defends a [[Chinese]] immigrant trying to make his way in North Fork. Samuel George "Sammy" Davis, Jr. (1925-1990) appears in another episode as an [[African American]] allowed without resistance to check into the [[hotel]] in North Fork. Similarly, in "The Gaucho" during the first season, Lucas befriends an [[Argentina|Argentine]] family against the prejudice of certain townspeople.<ref name="The Rifleman Episode Guide List">[http://www.riflemanconnors.com/ The Rifleman Episode Guide List<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

In promoting tolerance, Lucas in the third-season episode "The Queue]] defends a [[Chinese]] immigrant trying to make his way in North Fork. Samuel George "Sammy" Davis, Jr. (1925-1990) appears in another episode as an [[African American]] allowed without resistance to check into the [[hotel]] in North Fork. Similarly, in "The Gaucho" during the first season, Lucas befriends an [[Argentina|Argentine]] family against the prejudice of certain townspeople.<ref name="The Rifleman Episode Guide List">[http://www.riflemanconnors.com/ The Rifleman Episode Guide List]</ref>​

In "The Sheridan Story" also during the first season, Lucas, a veteran of the Union Army during the [[American Civil War]] (he was a lieutenant in the 10th [[Indiana]] Volunteer Infantry Regiment, hires a former Confederate to work on his ranch, but the former soldier causes trouble, being unable to accept defeat. The even-tempered Lucas serves as the peacemaker.<ref name="The Rifleman Episode Guide List"/> ​

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In "The Sister," Mark asked Lucas if he would remarry. Lucas replied that it was "only natural" for him to consider a second marriage. Mark asked when Lucas might marry again. He reassured Mark: "When I find the right woman." Mark asked what the qualifications would entail. Lucas told Mark that he would know the right woman "when I meet her son."  With a big grin on his face, Mark asked, "What will she be like?"  Lucas replied, "Well, she'll have to cook and sew and scrub.  Her hands gotta be soft, she's gotta have hair like the crimson as the setting sun. Eyes as brown as chestnuts. She's gotta wear a flower because that's womanly. Ride a [[horse]] like a man."  Mark suggested such a woman would be "kinda hard to find." Lucas agreed: "Very hard to find, son." As it turns out, Lucas did not remarry during the run of the program. However, in the last season, he was for a time smitten by a beautiful hotel owner named "Lou Mallory."<ref name="The Rifleman Episode Guide List"/>​

In "The Sister," Mark asked Lucas if he would remarry. Lucas replied that it was "only natural" for him to consider a second marriage. Mark asked when Lucas might marry again. He reassured Mark: "When I find the right woman." Mark asked what the qualifications would entail. Lucas told Mark that he would know the right woman "when I meet her son."  With a big grin on his face, Mark asked, "What will she be like?"  Lucas replied, "Well, she'll have to cook and sew and scrub.  Her hands gotta be soft, she's gotta have hair like the crimson as the setting sun. Eyes as brown as chestnuts. She's gotta wear a flower because that's womanly. Ride a [[horse]] like a man."  Mark suggested such a woman would be "kinda hard to find." Lucas agreed: "Very hard to find, son." As it turns out, Lucas did not remarry during the run of the program. However, in the last season, he was for a time smitten by a beautiful hotel owner named "Lou Mallory."<ref name="The Rifleman Episode Guide List"/>​