Williamson Pope Howard (September 3, 1822 – January 27, 1900) was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. He attended a private school at Edge Hill, Virginia, conducted by Miss Randolph but before he had completed his course he accompanied his father, John Howard, to Missouri.  At nineteen, Howard’s elder brother died in Savannah, Missouri and he was sent by his father to save his brother's interests and settle up his affairs. In this position of business management he did very satisfactory work. When this task was completed he opened a general mercantile store in Savannah, where he resided until 1857.  After moving to St. Louis, Howard organized the W. P. Howard Commission Company and developed a very large enterprise, becoming a well-known commission merchant in pork, tobacco and hemp.

Howard was also one of the first members of the St. Louis Club and at the time of his death was the oldest member of the Merchants Exchange, in which he had long taken an active and helpful part. During the Mexican war, he enlisted for service and marched as a private under the command of General Donephan.  Howard was married twice, first to Catherine Clark, who died in 1860, leaving three children.  In 1866, he married Mary Fisher, producing eight children. His son, Williamson Pope Howard Jr. (1871-October 1900) was an 1890 graduate of the Manual Training School at Washington University.