Changes

|residence=Colorado Springs, Colorado

|residence=Colorado Springs, Colorado

|death_date=December 21, 1934

|death_date=December 21, 1934

|death_place= [[Colorado Springs]], Colorado<br>

|death_place=[[Colorado Springs]], Colorado<br>

'''Resting place''':<br>

'''Resting place''':<br>

Evergreen Cemetery (Colorado Springs)

Evergreen Cemetery (Colorado Springs)

|religion=[[Methodist]]

|religion=[[Methodist]]

}}

}}

'''Irving Howbert''' (April 11, 1846 &ndash; December 21, 1934) was a pioneer settler of [[Colorado]], who with [[General]] William Jackson Palmer was instrumental in the establishment of [[Colorado Springs]].

'''Irving Howbert''' (April 11, 1846 &ndash; December 21, 1934) was a pioneer settler of [[Colorado]], who with [[General]] William Jackson Palmer (1836-1909) was instrumental in the establishment of [[Colorado Springs]].

   

   

==Early life==

==Early life==

==Military service==

==Military service==

In 1864, the 18-year-old Howbert enlisted in the Third Colorado Cavalry and fought with Colonel John Chivington in the Indian battle known as the Sand Creek Massacre in southeastern Colorado. Howbert had first met Chivington as a 14-year-old he arrived in Colorado. Though it is generally believed that the militia crushed helpless Cheyenne and Arapaho tribesmen by the use of the most brutal means available, Howbert long defended Chivington's role in the turn of events.<ref name=vandusen/>

In 1864, the 18-year-old Howbert enlisted in the Third Colorado Cavalry and fought with Colonel John Milton Chivington (1821-1894) in the Indian battle known as the Sand Creek Massacre in southeastern Colorado. Howbert had first met Chivington as a 14-year-old he arrived in Colorado. Though it is generally believed that the militia crushed helpless Cheyenne and Arapaho tribesmen by the use of the most brutal means available, Howbert long defended Chivington's role in the turn of events.<ref name=vandusen/>

In his autobiographical ''Memories of a Lifetime in the Pike's Peak Region,'' Howbert argued that the Indian women and children were not attacked, but a few who did not leave the camp were killed once the fighting began. He claimed that the number of warriors in the village was about equal to the force of the Colorado cavalry. He said that Chivington was retaliating for Indian attacks on wagon trains and settlements in Colorado and for the torture and killing of citizens during the preceding three years. Howbert said the evidence of the previous Indian attacks on the settlers was shown by the confiscation of "more than a dozen scalps of white people, some of them from the heads of women and children." He claimed that the account of the battle to the U. Congress made by Lt. Col. Samuel F. Tappan was inaccurate. Howbert accused Tappan of giving a false view of the battle because Tappan and Chivington had been military rivals.<ref name=vandusen/>

In his autobiographical ''Memories of a Lifetime in the Pike's Peak Region,'' Howbert argued that the Indian women and children were not attacked, but a few who did not leave the camp were killed once the fighting began. He claimed that the number of warriors in the village was about equal to the force of the Colorado cavalry. He said that Chivington was retaliating for Indian attacks on wagon trains and settlements in Colorado and for the torture and killing of citizens during the preceding three years. Howbert said the evidence of the previous Indian attacks on the settlers was shown by the confiscation of "more than a dozen scalps of white people, some of them from the heads of women and children." He claimed that the account of the battle to the U. Congress made by Lt. Col. Samuel F. Tappan was inaccurate. Howbert accused Tappan of giving a false view of the battle because Tappan and Chivington had been military rivals.<ref name=vandusen/>

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>

In 187, Howbert married the former Lizzie Copeland, and the couple had two children.<ref name=ihqf/> Lizzie died in 1922, and after twelve years as a widower, Howbert also died in 1934 and is interred with his wife at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.<ref name=findagrave/> His ''Indians of the Pike's Peak Region'' was published in 1914. ''Memories of a Lifetime in the Pikes Peak Region'' followed in 1925 and was released again in 1970.<ref name=ihqf/>

In 1874, Howbert married the former Lizzie Copeland, and the couple had two children.<ref name=ihqf/> Lizzie died in 1922, and after twelve years as a widower, Howbert also died in 1934 and is interred with his wife at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.<ref name=findagrave/> His ''Indians of the Pike's Peak Region'' was published in 1914. ''Memories of a Lifetime in the Pikes Peak Region'' followed in 1925 and was released again in 1970.<ref name=ihqf/>

The Irving Howbert Elementary School in Colorado Springs is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.d11.org/Schools/Pages/Howbert.aspx|title=Irving Howbert Elementary School|publisher=d11.org|accessdate=January 19, 2014; information no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> The former town of Howbert, Colorado, which lies submerged under the waters of Eleven Mile Reservoir inside Eleven Mile State Park in Park County, was named for Irving Howbert though he never lived there.<ref name=vandusen/>

The Irving Howbert Elementary School in Colorado Springs is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.d11.org/Schools/Pages/Howbert.aspx|title=Irving Howbert Elementary School|publisher=d11.org|accessdate=January 19, 2014; information no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> The former town of Howbert, Colorado, which lies submerged under the waters of Eleven Mile Reservoir inside Eleven Mile State Park in Park County, was named for Irving Howbert though he never lived there.<ref name=vandusen/>