David Howell was born around 1798 in Delaware. By the early 1800s, he was living in Kentucky. He served as a private in the Kentucky militia during the War of 1812, enlisting on August 26, 1813, and serving until November 6, 1813. He took part in the Battle of the Thames.  

 

He married Anna Gist on September 2, 1834, and they had at least seven children: David, born on January 13, 1840; Rezin, born around 1841; Henry, born around 1843; Howard, born around 1846; Clayton, born around 1848; Florence, born around 1851; and Nettie, born around 1860. They lived in Montgomery County, Kentucky, and Howell worked as a farmer. By 1850, he owned $12,900 of real estate. In the early 1850s, he received bounty land from the federal government in recognition of his service in the War of 1812. By 1860, he owned $34,500 of real estate and $16,760 of personal property. He enslaved at least 17 people. By 1870, he owned $40,000 of real estate and $8,000 of personal property. He died near Mount Sterling, Kentucky, on April 16, 1874.

SOURCES