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Delano Timeline
The following is a timeline that highlights the important events in early Wichita that made Delano notorious.
From Cattle to Skies
Barely a generation after drovers celebrated the end of the trail by quenching their thirsts and pleasures at one of then-West Wichita’s numerous saloons, a fledgling new “industry” began to take wing.
Rowdy Joe & Red Beard
Across the Arkansas River, a stones throw from Wichita prestigious and law-abiding families, sat the much vilified but lucrative businesses in the township of Delano.
Rowdy Joe Lowe
A Day of Drinking makes Rowdy Joe Lowe, one of Delano's most notorious outlaws.
Baseball Apple Pie & Delano
America’s favorite pastime followed a route starting in east Wichita and wound itself to its present and historic landmark just south of the Delano district.
“Law and Lucre in Wichita”
Life and Times of the The Earps while in Wichita from 1974 to 1976

Joseph Thomas Lowe, also known as Rowdy Joe Lowe, born 1846 in Illinois.

Joe Lowe and his wife Kate wandered into Kansas from Illinois where they set up a combination saloon-brothel in West Wichita, Kansas. Following the boom railroad towns they opened similar establishments in Ellsworth and Newton, Kansas.

Joe shot and killed a man in Newton named A. M. Sweet after Sweet threatened to kill Joe. The Topeka Kansas Daily Commonwealth reported "Joe immediately surrendered to the Sheriff".

In Wichita paper, "Joe fled custody after killing Edward Beard". A Delano, Kansas- Gunman, Edward T. Beard, "AKA Red Beard", died two weeks after being shot by gunman Rowdy Joe Lowe.

Beard was at odds with the dreaded gunman Rowdy Joe Lowe, who had built a saloon next to Beard's (winning in a race to see who could build a dance hall first). On October 27, Beard, drinking heavily, accused one of his prostitutes, Jo DeMerritt, of stealing from him. DeMerritt threw a bottle at him and fled next door to Lowe's saloon. The drunken Beard followed her, staggered into Lowe's, and in the smoke-filled place mistook another prostitute, Annie Franklin, for DeMerritt. He fired a shot which struck the woman in the stomach. Lowe then grabbed a shotgun and exchanged shots with Beard. Lowe's shot missed but Beard's bullet grazed Lowe's neck. A stray bullet struck and wounded bystander Bill Anderson who was standing at the bar. Beard fled and Lowe, as drunk as his quarry, went after him. Both men, mounted on horses and racing out of town, had a running gunfight. Lowe caught up with Beard near the river bridge and emptied his shotgun into him, then rode back to town where he turned himself in to the sheriff. Beard was found critically wounded in the arm and thigh, loaded with buckshot. He clung to life for two weeks, but through loss of blood died on this date.
He wandered through Texas and finally 'settled' in Denver, Colorado. While drunk and belligerent Lowe insulted a local Denver Colorado police officer. As tempers flared both men went for their guns and Joe was shot dead.

Joe Lowe is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.


 

 
 
 
 
   
   
Delano Business Association Copyright 2006