Rebecca Groundage Howard (c. 1829 – July 1881) was a prominent African-American businesswoman in the early years of the Pacific Northwest.
[1] 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.
In 1843, Rebecca Groundage married a local cooper, Alexander Howard in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
In the fall of 1859, Alexander Howard advertised that an unnamed restaurant had been renovated and opened to meals and lodgers.
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".
[6] 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.
[7] 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".
She stepped in and embraced Mr. Griswold, lifted him two feet off the ground, and held him tight until he lost his breath and any further will to fight.
[1] A number of accounts indicate that Rebecca Howard supported the orphaned daughter of her former master and owner back east.
[10]The fact that Mrs. Howard went to church is significant, because it indicates the acceptance of this black businesswoman in an important community institution.
In 1871, in the competition for the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railway, she joined with other property owners in supporting the effort.
Frank Howard became a leading citizen of the city, inheriting his adopted parents' properties and investing in land and development.