Ka cika wannan jumla: Howell likita ne da aka haife shi a Massachusetts a shekara ta 1797, amma ya zauna a New York kafin ya tafi Texas ta hanyar New Orleans a shekara ta 1835. Ya zo Texas a matsayin memba na Kyaftin Thomas H. Breece na kamfanin New Orleans Greys. Howell ya shiga cikin Siege na Bexar kuma daga baya ya yi aiki a Alamo a matsayin memba na Kyaftin William Blazeby na kamfanin soja. A ranar 6 ga Maris, 1836 Howell ya mutu a cikin
Yaƙin Alamo.