Joseph “Rowdy Joe” Lowe – Saloon Gunfighter – Legends of America
In the annals of the American Old West, where fortunes were made and lost as quickly as a draw, figures like Joseph Lowe, better known as "Rowdy Joe," carved their own unique, often tumultuous, paths. Lowe wasn’t just a gambler or a saloon keeper; he was a complex character, a product of his time, who navigated the volatile world of the West with a mix of shrewdness, bravado, and a propensity for violence.
Early Life and Civil War Service
Born in Illinois in 1845, the early life of Joseph Lowe remains shrouded in some mystery. Details are scarce, but the trajectory of his life took a significant turn with the outbreak of the American Civil War. Lowe enlisted in the Union Army, a decision that would undoubtedly shape his worldview and perhaps instill in him a certain level of resilience and survival instincts.
After the war’s conclusion, Lowe, like many veterans, sought a new beginning. He married Kate Daniels, a woman who would become as notorious as himself, earning the moniker "Rowdy Kate." Together, they embarked on a journey westward, drawn by the promise of opportunity in the burgeoning cow towns of Kansas.
The Kansas Years: Saloons and Scandal
The Lowes’ arrival in Kansas marked the beginning of their foray into the entertainment business. They weren’t content with simple farming or ranching; they were drawn to the allure of saloons, dance halls, gambling parlors, and brothels – establishments that catered to the desires and vices of the transient populations that flocked to the West.
Joe initially took on odd jobs, including working as a mule skinner, before finding his niche in the saloon business. In 1871, the couple set up shop in Newton, Kansas, establishing a saloon and brothel. However, their time in Newton was cut short by a scandal. In 1872, Kate ran off with a man named Sweet to visit a competing brothel, and when Joe found out, he shot the man.
The shooting incident forced the pair to relocate to the Wichita area, where they established a saloon/gambling hall/brothel in Delano, Kansas, the worst section in Wichita. This business venture was immediately profitable with gambling tables, booze, and “soiled doves” who doubled as dance partners. However, it was also known to be a rough establishment where men were encouraged to drink heavily, spend lots of money, and were often swindled in shady card deals.
Rivalry and Gunfight in Delano
The Lowes prospered in Delano, but their success attracted competition. Edward "Red" Beard, another saloon keeper, opened a similar establishment just a stone’s throw away. Initially, the two men maintained a semblance of cordiality, but the rivalry soon turned sour.
Tensions escalated in the summer of 1873 when a soldier shot one of Beard’s dancehall girls. Beard retaliated by firing on the soldiers, who later burned down his saloon. This was profitable for Lowe’s saloon, and Beard envied their prosperity, ending any friendliness they might have had before.
By October 1873, Red Beard had rebuilt his saloon and reopened it. But Red Beard continued to begrudge his neighbor. On October 27, when Beard was drinking heavily, he accused one saloon girl, Jo DeMerritt, of stealing from him. In response, DeMerritt threw a bottle at Red and fled to Lowe’s saloon next door. Beard immediately followed, and in the smoke-filled saloon, Red mistook another prostitute, Annie Franklin, for DeMerritt and shot Annie in the stomach.
Rowdy Joe then went behind the bar, grabbed his shotgun, and exchanged fire with Beard. One of Beard’s shots grazed Joe’s neck in the melee, and a stray bullet hit one of Lowe’s customers, William Anderson, in the eye, blinding him for life. Beard then fled.
Later that night, Beard took to the streets looking for Joe. However, Lowe saw Beard first and shot him from behind. Though Red was down, he clung to life for the next two weeks before he died on November 11, 1873.
Aftermath and Flight
The gunfight had a detrimental effect on Lowe’s saloon. Complaints about violence, cheating, and underhanded card deals became more frequent, and the business began to decline.
A few months later, a short trial ensued, and Joe Lowe was found not guilty. However, when Lowe was charged with the shooting of William Anderson, he and Kate left town.
Wandering Westward: Tombstone and Texas
The Lowes’ journey continued, taking them to various corners of the West. They spent some time in Dodge City, Kansas, but were eventually asked to leave. They then traveled to Tombstone, Arizona, where they set up a bar and brothel with Big Nose Kate. However, the joint quickly developed a reputation for ruthlessness, with no rules except that “no man should leave with money in his pockets.” Some even said the price of the drinks varied with the degree of intoxication, and high rollers might be drugged, robbed, and tossed in a gully outback.
Next, they were again setting up drinking halls in Texas, where it was said that Lowe sometimes joined up with the Sam Bass Gang, participating in several robberies.
In 1875, they lived the nightlife in Denison, Texas, in saloons and gambling halls and were often the object of arrests. In August 1875, “Rowdy Kate,” a petite woman with black eyes and curly hair, was arrested for fighting and fined $5. The following month, Nettie McGuire, aka “The Snake Charmer,” had Kate arrested on charges of intent to kill, but the case was dismissed. In October, “Rowdy Joe” was arrested for taking part in a “row” in The Crystal Palace Dance Hall at about 3 a.m. between himself and Fred Spencer. Tom Farmer, a policeman, attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful. When Sheriff Vaden entered the scene, he was surrounded by local men and women, and his revolver went off, striking Billy Campbell in the neck. The next day Rowdy Joe pled guilty to disturbing the peace, was fined $5, and was charged with resisting arrest, for which he was fine
It must have been shortly after this time that the pair broke up because Joe married Molly Fields in August 1876. Afterward, Joe moved on to other parts of Texas, operating saloons, gambling parlors, dance halls, and brothels for brief periods in places like Luling, San Antonio by 1877, and Ft. Worth by mid-summer 1877.
In the meantime, Kate moved to Weatherford, Big Spring, and finally into Oklahoma Territory. She was living in Purcell, Oklahoma, in 1887, living life as the queen of the boomer camp. In 1895, she was accidentally shot and was buried on the lands of the Creek Nation.
Final Days in Denver
Joe drifted to the Black Hills of South Dakota during the gold rush. By 1899, Lowe had moved on again, establishing a small ranch outside of Denver, Colorado, and claimed to have given up his wild ways. However, on February 11, 1899, he was drunk at Denver’s Walrus Saloon when he discovered that a man at the bar named E.A. Kimmel was an ex-policeman. Lowe immediately began to insult Kimmel, who, knowing that Lowe had a reputation as a gunman, pulled his six-shooter and fired five bullets into him, dropping “Rowdy Joe” to the floor. When Lowe was rolled over, it was found that he was unarmed.
Legacy of a Rowdy Life
Joseph "Rowdy Joe" Lowe’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of ambition, violence, and the relentless pursuit of fortune. He was a saloon keeper, a gambler, and a gunfighter, a man who lived by his wits and his reputation in a world where survival often depended on both. While his methods were often questionable and his legacy is undoubtedly controversial, Rowdy Joe Lowe remains a figure of intrigue in the history of the American West, a testament to the complex and often contradictory nature of those who sought their fortunes on the frontier.