Howbert made his fortune beginning in 1878 through part ownership of a [[silver]] mine in Leadville, Colorado. In 1880, he became the president of the First National Bank of Colorado Springs. Howbert was also an officer and investor of the Colorado Midland Railway and held many positions of civic responsibility in Colorado Springs.<ref name=ihqf/> He was instrumental in the development of the Colorado Springs municipal water supply and in the organization of the first [[natural gas]] company. He built the Colorado Springs Opera House with profits from his silver mine.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16414989|title=Irving Howbert|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> | Howbert made his fortune beginning in 1878 through part ownership of a [[silver]] mine in Leadville, Colorado. In 1880, he became the president of the First National Bank of Colorado Springs. Howbert was also an officer and investor of the Colorado Midland Railway and held many positions of civic responsibility in Colorado Springs.<ref name=ihqf/> He was instrumental in the development of the Colorado Springs municipal water supply and in the organization of the first [[natural gas]] company. He built the Colorado Springs Opera House with profits from his silver mine.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16414989|title=Irving Howbert|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> |