Anna Gist Howell (maiden name: Gist) was born around 1818 in Kentucky. She married David Howell 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 her husband worked as a farmer.
By 1850, they owned $12,900 of real estate. A decade later, they owned $34,500 of real estate and $16,760 of personal property. They enslaved at least 17 people. By 1870, they owned $40,000 of real estate and $8,000 of personal property. Her husband died on April 16, 1874. Her husband had been a veteran of the War of 1812, and she received a widow’s pension after his death. By 1880, she was living with her children Clayton and Nettie in Montgomery County. She died sometime after 1880.