When Abijah John Dee Columbus Howton was born on 22 February 1865, in Madisonville, Hopkins, Kentucky, United States, his father, James Henry Howton Jr., was 35 and his mother, Elizabeth Louvina Ross, was 29. He married Alice Geneva Estes in 1893, in Nez Perce, Idaho, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 7 daughters. He lived in Nezperce, Lewis, Idaho, United States in 1880 and Kahlotus, Franklin, Washington, United States in 1920. He died on 28 July 1930, in Lind, Adams, Washington, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Delight Cemetery, Adams, Washington, United States.