Irving Howbert (April 11, 1846–December 22, 1934) was a pioneer of the Pikes Peak region,[1] businessman, investor, politician, and philanthropist.

As county clerk and recorder, as well as a real estate agent, he sought and attained land for what would become Colorado Springs.

[2][b] After his military service, he settled in Colorado Territory, where he worked several years in a number of positions, farmer, cowboy herding cattle, freighter, and general store clerk.

[8][c][9] Howbert helped William Jackson Palmer found the city of Colorado Springs.

[5] County clerk Howbert issued the paperwork to establish the city of Colorado Springs.

[5] To encourage interest in the town, Howbert led the effort for the creation of the Ute Pass Wagon Road to the mining camps in South Park.

[11] During that ten-year period, he also assumed the responsibility of county assessor, treasurer, and the work of three commissioners.

At the same time, the strikers built formidable defenses and munitions on Bull Hill in Cripple Creek to fight against mine owners.

[17] After a number of ill-fated attempts to take Bull Hill, the state militia was brought in and ended the conflict.

[18] A devastating and fast-burning fire engulfed much of Cripple Creek, "a town of tinderbox of desiccated wood", on April 25, 1896.

[20] Hobert, Spencer Penrose, Winfield Scott Stratton, and Verner Z. Reed immediately established a relief committee and filled a two-car special train and two dozen freight wagons with food, tents, blankets, diapers that was sent to Cripple Creek.

The town rebuilt better than before and it improved the relationships between the miners and the mine owners for the capitalist's timely and significant relief efforts.

[24] On July 17 of that year, Howbert oversaw the development of the goal or intention: "It is hoped that the republican women of the state will actively participate in all primaries, and that they will be fully recognized in the selection of delegates to this and other conventions of the part.

[26] Discussions became "spirited" among the committee members on July 29 as Edward O. Wolcott lobbied for selection of William McKinley as a candidate for the 1896 United States presidential election.

[27][d] J. L. Hodges — a supporter of McKinley and the continued use of the gold standard — replaced Howbert as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee.

[28] Howbert sat on the Colorado College board of trustees from 1880 to 1922,[5][29] including sitting on the Executive, Finance, Instruction, Auditing, and Investment Committees.

[6][e][f] At the time, Howbert was chairman of the El Paso County Pioneer Society and led an event on August 30, 1912 to celebrate the burial of a time capsule, including ceremonial dances performed by Utes on ancestral sacred land.

[3] From the fortune that he made on the Robert E. Lee mine, Howbert funded the construction of the Opera House along with J.F.