Colonel Howard H. Betts Grant County, New Mexico

Colonel Howard H. Betts, filling the position of city clerk at Silver City, New Mexico, is a native of New England, his birth having occurred in Danbury. Connecticut, December 1. 1855. He was reared, however, in New York City and he has been a resident of Silver City, New Mexico, since December, 1886. In that year he entered the employ of the firm of Morril & Company, with whom he remained for a year, when he embarked in business on his own account, conducting his store successfully until 1891. He then disposed of his stock of groceries and, in partnership with W. H. Newcomb, organized the Silver City, Pinos Altos & Mogollon Narrow Gauge Railroad Company for the building of a line, but the repeal of the Sherman act caused the financial ruin of the firm after the work of grading for a distance of nine miles from Silver City had been completed.

Various official honors have been conferred upon Mr. Betts and he has made a creditable record in different offices he has filled. He was appointed a member of the board of penitentiary commissioners and for two years acted as its president. In 1897 he was chosen to the office of city clerk of Silver City and has since acted in this capacity, covering a period of nine years. He was appointed assessor of Grant County in 1899 and 1900. Opposed to misrule in all municipal or county offices, his course has been characterized by unfaltering devotion to the public good through the faithful performance of the duties entrusted to him.

On the 9th of December, 1809, Mr. Betts was married to Miss Annie A. Newcomb. He is a member of Silver City Lodge No. 413. B. P. O. E., and is its secretary, and membership relations connect him with Silver City lodge, K. P. February 24, 1906, Governor Hagerman appointed him colonel on his staff.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.