- Joseph Lowe
Joseph Lowe (1845-1899), aka "Rowdy Joe" Lowe, was a
gambler and saloon keeper/owner of theOld West . Although sometimes described as agunfighter , he did not historically fit into that category.Originally from
Illinois , Lowe and his wife Katherine, aka "Rowdy Kate", moved toKansas following the Civil War. They opened a saloon inDelano, Kansas , which at that time was a small town located across theArkansas River from Wichita, a business venture that at first was extremely profitable. OnOctober 27 ,1873 , Lowe shot and killed fellow saloon owner Edward "Red" Beard after Beard stormed into his saloon shooting at one of Lowe's "girls". Beard hit another girl with one shot, and a patron with another before Lowe shot him. This gave Lowe somewhat of a reputation.However, after numerous complaints of cheating and under handed card deals, Lowe's business began to suffer. The couple moved to
Texas , where they rode, on occasion, with theSam Bass gang. The couple began drifting, gambling and occasionally working in saloons in numerous towns of the Old West. OnFebruary 11 , 1899, Lowe was drunk in the "Walrus Saloon" inDenver, Colorado . He began insulting a man named E.A. Kimmel due to his disapproval of Kimmel being a policeman. Kimmel, knowing Lowe had a reputation as a gunman, drew his pistol shooting and killing Lowe, who turned out to be unarmed.
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