People soon to take on husband (7)
I believe the answer is:
inhabit
'people' is the definition.
(people can mean to populate or inhabit)
'soon to take on husband' is the wordplay.
'soon' becomes 'in a bit' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to take on' indicates putting letters inside.
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'inabit' going around 'h' is 'INHABIT'.
(Other definitions for inhabit that I've seen before include "Occupy (dwelling)" , "Live in, occupy" , "Occupy - settle" , "people" , "Live in (a place)" .)