Rebecca Groundage Howard (1829 – July 1881) was a prominent black businesswoman in the early years of the Pacific Northwest. Early life Rebecca Groundage Howard is reported to have been born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1829. A number of accounts indicate that Howard was a former slave, so this birthplace and the actual date of birth are more difficult to verify. For instance, in the various census later taken in Washington Territory, Howard indicated a birthplace of Massachusetts. While there may have been some slaves in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania at the time of Howard's birth in 1829, according to the Abolition of slavery timeline it was clearly illegal at that time in both states. Mrs. Howard must have had her own reasons for claiming former slave hood, which is really her business anyway. In 1843, Rebecca Groundage married a local cooper, Alexander Howard in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Alexander Howard was 11 years her senior. Arriving in Pacific Northwest In 1859, Rebecca and Alexander Howard moved to Olympia, in what was then the Washington Territory. In the fall of 1859, Alexander Howard advertised that an unnamed restaurant had been renovated and opened to meals and lodgers. He signed the brief advertisement. In 1860, the Howards' took over the operation of the Pacific House, renaming it to the Pacific Restaurant. Notably, Rebecca seems to have taken over the operation of the business, with her name associated with it and subsequently in the future. The Pacific Restaurant quickly became popular amongst both travelers and territory politicians. Rebecca was regarded as a good cook, providing meals at any time of the day or week. Rebecca developed a good reputation as a cook by "catering to the non-too-fastidious travelers whose appetites had been sharpened by an ever jolting ride". Rebecca Howard soon found that she was a good entrepreneur, changing the name of the establishment in 1862 to "Pacific Hotel and Restaurant", which emphasized that lodgings were also available to travelers. Realizing her establishment's popularity would bear some increase in charges, in May, 1863 she changed her 'meal at any time' food policy to "Meals after Eight o'clock extra". In addition, she began advertising in the Seattle Gazette as well as the local Olympia paper in 1864. As a proprietor, Rebecca Howard initially allowed patrons to call her "Aunt Becky". She was reportedly good humored and possessed a sharp wit. Local children knew her to