Williamson Pope HOWARD:BIOGRAPHY ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jean Smallwood USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Source: Centennial History of Missouri (The Center State), One Hundred Years in the Union 1820-1921, Illustrated, Volume V, St. Louis - Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1921 Williamson Pope HOWARD (photo available): The interests and activities in the life of Williamson Pope HOWARD made his an evenly balanced character for he never sacrificed developments along one line to progress in another. His keen discrimination enables him to put a just value upon all the interests of life, and so directed his efforts that when he passed away in 1900, St. Louis mourned the loss of one of her representative and honored citizens. He won success but he also won the respect of his fellowmen, for at the times his course was such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. A native of Virginia, he was born at Charlotteville, September 3, 1822, and he was therefore in the seventy-eight year of his age when he passed away. He came of a family of English lineage, and in fact his ancestors belonged to the nobility of England, being of the same family as the Duke of Norfolk, having the same coat of arms. Mr. HOWARD, however, was a modest man, who did not prate on his royal ancestry, but felt that to be a good American citizen should be sufficient for any one. It was at an early period in the settlement of the new world that representatives of the family came to the United States, establishing homes in Maryland and Virginia. The education of Williamson Pope HOWARD was largely acquired under the personal instruction of an uncle, William PETTIT, a brother of Mr. HOWARD's mother, of one of the prominent families of the Old Dominion. William PETTIT, the uncle, became one of the pioneer educators of Saline County, Missouri, and W. P. HOWARD moved to this state in early youth wit his father, John HOWARD, the family settling in Saline County, where the boy was reared in the usual manner of a farm bred lad, utilizing every available opportunity to acquire an education, for he was ambitious to improve his mind and thus qualify for life's practical and responsible duties. He benefited thoroughly by the instruction of his uncle, and also gained many valuable lessons in the school of experience, especially concerning the work of force, of energy and of perseverance. He was nineteen years of age when occurred the death of his elder brother, who had gone to Savannah, Missouri, where he was engaged in business. Following his demise, the father sent W. P. HOWARD to Savannah to settle up his brother's affairs and he displayed marked capability in business management there. He afterward established a general merchandise store in Savannah, where he made his home until 1857 and then came to St. Louis. Here he organized the W. P. HOWARD Commission Company, and conducted business that extended throughout the state. He handled port, tobacco and hemp, and became one of the foremost commission merchants of Missouri, at a time when practically all shipments were made by boat. When the government removed the duties from him he fought hard to kill the bill in order to protect the industry in the South. As the years passed on his commission business constantly increased in volume and importance and he handled as many as a mission pounds of meat at a time. Later he confined his attention to the conduct of a wholesale bag business, which business in time passed into possession of his family. He contributed much to the business progress and development of St. Louis and won for himself a most enviable reputation by the reliability and progressiveness of his business methods. He built up his fortunes along the lines of legitimate trade, and was a great opponent of gambling in stock or any other form. Because of his attitude on this question he was called to Washington to speak upon the subject before the board of agriculture, for that board was planning to take steps to legislate against gambling. Mr. HOWARD knew from experience that straightforward business methods could win succ4ess if the required industry and sound judgment were brought to bear upon business problems, and his clear exposition of his opinions did not fail to make a deep impress upon the agriculture board in the national capital. Mr. Howard was married twice. His first wife bore the maiden name of Miss Catherine CLARK, and in her maidenhood was a resident of Terre Haute, Indiana. She passed away in 1860, leaving three children: Thomas Weston, now deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. R. A. QUARRELS of Fairhope, Alabama; and Kate, who married Dr. Thomas A. SMITH of Saline County, Missouri, and both died in 1919, leaving three daughters. In 1866 Mr. HOWARD was again married, Miss Mary FISHER becoming his wife and the mother of eight children, only three of whom are living; Frank F.; Adele; and Lucille, all residents of St. Louis. The daughter Adele, is the wife of David FENTRES, their son Frank wedded Miss Van Cleave, who passed away leaving a daughter, Wilhelmina VAN CLEAVE HOWARD. The death of W. P. HOWARD occurred on the 27th of January 1900, when he was more than seventy-seven years of age. In the review of his life one should not overlook the fact that he served as a private under the command of DONIPHAN in the Mexican War that he was one of the ablest and strongest business men of St. Louis; and that he was a man of most charitable purpose and kindly disposition. He became one of the early members of the St. Louis Club, and when he passed away was the oldest member of the Merchants Exchange, in the work of which he had taken an active and helpful part. Both he and his wife belonged to the Episcopal Church and Mr. HOWARD served as vestryman of St. John's Church for many years. He contributed generously to various church organizations, however, for he was a broadminded man, who recognized the good in all. He was charitable in his opinions, kindly in his purposes and most honorable in every relation of life. He passed on to a ripe old age. His record was as the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of completed and successful efforts, ending in the quiet rest of the night and he passed on "as one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."