Grayson County TXGenWeb

"Rowdy Joe"

By 1875 a woman by the name of "Rowdy Kate" appeared upon the streets of Denison. Her legal name was Kate Daniels - a petite woman with black eyes and curly hair. Some sources say she was married to Joseph Lowe, also known as "Rowdy Joe".
After troubles in Wichita, Kansas where they ran a combination saloon-dance hall, they headed for Texas, specifically Denison, where they lived the night life in saloons and gambling halls and were often the object of arrests.
As early as August 1875, "Rowdy Kate" was arrested for fighting and fined $5. (Denison Daily Cresset, Wednesday, August 11, 1875, pg.4) In September 1875 Nettie McGuire, aka "The Snake Charmer", had Kate arrested on charges of intent to kill but the case was dismissed. (Denison Daily Cresset, Sunday, September 11, 1875, pg.4). About a month later "Rowdy Joe" was arrested for having taken part in a "row" going on in The Crystal Palace Dance Hall about 3 o'clock a.m. between himself and Fred Spencer. Tom Farmer, policeman, attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful. When Sheriff Vaden entered upon the scene, he was surrounded by vocal men and women and in the incident his revolver went off, striking Billy Campbell in the neck. The next day Rowdy Joe pled guilty to disturbing the peace and was fined $5 and was charged with resisting arrest, for which he was fined $20. (Denison Daily Cresset, Tuesday, October 12, 1875, pg.4)
In May 1876 Mr. H.P. Matthews sold the "Le Grande" saloon to Messrs. Lowe and Redick. "The incoming proprietors are both very popular, and although one of them (Mr. Lowe) rejoinces in the Sobriquet of "Rowdy Joe", we can assure all who favor them with their custom that they will find him decidedly the reverse...." (Denison Daily Cresset, Thursday, May 24, 1876, pg.4) However, "Rowdy Joe's" business adventure in Denison lasted only about three month; by September 1, Mr. Berliner bought out the interest of Joe Lowe in the Le Grande Saloon. (Denison Daily News, Friday, September 1, 1876, pg.4)

After a short stay in northeast Texas, Kate and Joe traveled to other parts of Texas and operated saloons, gambling parlors, dance halls, and brothels for brief perionds of time in such places as Luling, San Antonio by 1877, and Ft. Worth (mid-summer 1877); while in Ft. Worth Joe and Kate's relationship ended and Joe married Molly Fields in August 1876.
Rowdy Kate moved on to Weatherford, Big Spring and finally into Okalhoma Territory.

Rowdy Joe left Texas behind and drifted to Colorado; in February 1879 it was reported that Rowdy Joe passed through Denison on his way to Leadville, Colorado. "Whenever a 'hurrah' town is started, there Joe will always go." (Denison Daily News, Sunday, February 18, 1879, pg.4)There he met his end during an 1899 blizzard and was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Denver. (FAG Memorial #4724879)

Editor's Note: There are multiple versions of the lives and deaths of Rowdy Joe and Rowdy Kate; but for this page, the time frame of their lives focuses on their short stay in Denison, Grayson County, Texas.)