Born in Brigham City, Utah Territory, Howell moved with his parents to Wellsville, Utah, in 1863. He attended the common schools and the University of Utah at Salt Lake City. He taught school, engaged in mercantile pursuits, and served as mayor of Wellsville from 1882 to 1884.

Howell served in the territorial House of Representatives from 1886 to 1892. After Utah gained statehood, Howell served as member of the State senate from 1896 to 1900. He was also regent of the University of Utah from 1896 to 1900. Howell moved to Logan, Utah, in 1901.

Howell married Mary Maughan and their daughter Barabara Howell Richards served as a member of the Relief Society General Board.^[1]

Howell was elected as a Republican to House of Representatives for the Fifty-eighth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1903 - March 3, 1917). Howell was involved in getting appropriations for the Mormon colonists who had fled Mexico in 1912.^{[2][failed verification]}

Howell engaged in banking and the real estate business. The town of Howell, Utah, founded about 1910 on land owned by one of his business interests in Box Elder County, was named for him.

He died in Logan, Utah, July 18, 1918, and was interred in the Logan City Cemetery.

• Parley Parker Christensen, Utah and California politician, opposed Howell.

• United States Congress. "Joseph Howell (id: H000866)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress