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Stephen H. Briggs - Gambler, Art Collector, & Philanthropist
He was born in Warwick, RI. in 1849. Son of Stephen C. Briggs and Rebecca ______, who ran Briggs House/Tavern at Phenix, RI.
Note: The extensive obituary below incorrectly states that his father's middle initial was "H". The initial is "C" in multiple censuses. Stephen H Briggs' only sibling was Willet G. Briggs.
I am hoping to learn Rebecca's maiden name, and Stephen senior's parents' names.
Stephen was married twice. First to Elizabeth A. _____, who died 22 May 1905. He then married Jane/Janet Smith on 10 June 1908. Jane/Janet was my gr-gr-Aunt. "Janett" is mentioned in the death notice below Stephen's obituary. I have not been able to find any information about her after Stephen's death.
Thank you,
- Laurie
Obituary of Stephen H. Briggs
Providence Journal newspaper
July 21, 1913
pg. 1
STEPHEN H. BRIGGS
SPORTING MAN DEAD
Victim of Disease of Liver After Long Illness
CONDUCTED MANY PLACES
Familiarly known as an “Honest Gambler” He was Closely Associated with Leaders of Fraternity – He was an Art Connoisseur and Collector as Well as a Philanthropist.
Stephen H. Briggs, one of the most widely know of the old-time sporting fraternity of the State, died at his home, 190 Dexter Street, shortly before 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon after an illness that had extended over a long period of time. He was 64 years of age.
Death was due to cirrhosis of the liver. Mr. Briggs had been in poor health for the past three years, and had been growing steadily worse since an operation performed upon him about six months ago. The funeral will be held Wednesday from his home, and will be in charge of the Order of Elks, of which he was a member.
Prominently identified with the gambling fraternity and himself a proprietor of various houses for a score of years, his career had much of the picturesque in it.
He was born the son of Stephen H. Briggs, for years the owner of Briggs tavern at Phenix, the headquarters of the sporting element of the Pawtuxet Valley. Looking on as a boy at the games played for the drinks or the dinners by the sports of the district, the lad grew up in the atmosphere of chance.
His father, however, apprenticed him to a toolmaker, and for a few years he studied the trade diligently, becoming in a comparatively short time an expert in the work. At the age of 16 he came to Providence to follow his trade.
GAMBLING WAS OPEN
At that time, ???? gambling had not yet come under the ban of the police to any extent, and houses in various parts of the State were run wide open. While working here at his trade in which he was deeply interested, he went in his leisure hours to watch the games, as he had done at his father’s tables a few years before.
The spirit of chance, the sight of money easily made, and the geniality of the men he met led the young man more and more away from his trade and toward the excitement of the game. In 1878 he went to Boston, where he became a dealer in a gambling house. He remained there until 1881, during that time gaining a wide reputation among the sporting fellowship as an expert at handling the cards.
He tired of the house with which he was connected in Boston, and as time passed had a strong desire to go where the play was “high”. In the meantime John Morrissey, leader of the New York gambling element, and proprietor of the famous resort on Broadway in that city known widely by its street number as “818”, had heard of the dexterity of the young fellow at the Boston house.
Consequently in [????] Morrissey sent for him and Briggs went. He became the expert dealer at “818”, remaining there for three years, where he came to know and become a chum of such well-known characters as Steve Harris and Lucius Appleby.
Play was “high” at “818” and fortunes went in an evening. Briggs, the keen, observant young dealer who was always called upon when the biggest games were on, got 10 percent commission on the winnings. With the prosperity of the sports at “818”, came prosperity to Briggs, and it was not long before he had capital enough to start a “place” of his own.
OPENS OWN PLACE
In 1883 he left “818” and came back to Providence, where with the commissions he had made in New York, he fitted up and opened a house in Orange Street. Briggs was a silent, earnest man, growing more silent and more earnest as time passed on. He was known as being firm in his determination and slow to anger, but a bad man to cross.
In Providence, he proposed to open a “high-class” house, one where play should be high and where the low element and low tactics would not be tolerated. So the word went quickly about through the gambling fraternity that Briggs’s place was to be just what he wanted it to be – “high class”.
The house on Orange street was in full swing every evening from the time it opened until the time it closed, 11 years later. It always continued to be what Briggs opened it for – a “high-class” place. It was frequented by professional men from all over the State, and wealthy people with a leaning toward chance came from all parts of New England, until “Briggs’s in Orange street” was widely known.
In 1894 the house on Orange Street was closed and another opened on Peck Street, in a building erected on purpose for it. The new place was elaborately fitted up, and during its brief lease on life was even more “high class” than had been the Orange street house. After the new place had been in operation about a year, however, the “lid” began to go on as far as gambling was concerned. Briggs was notified that he must close, and he did immediately.
PLACE AT PIER
Five years before, however, in 1890, he had fitted up and opened at Narragansett pier, the most elaborate gambling house in the se???on. He spent $25,000 fitting up the Pier house, which he called the Narragansett Club, and one player dropped $35,000 the evening it opened. Among the decorations at the house were a number of valuable oil paintings, one of which cost Briggs $7,000.
From 1890 to 190?, the Narragansett Club continued in operation, every year becoming more widely known and more popular with the wealthy class of players to whom and to whom only, Briggs desired to cater. He built himself a beautiful summer home on the Pier but a short distance from the club, and furnished it with the money made in a month there.
Associated with Briggs during his career as a proprietor of his various houses were Richard A. Canfield, famous for his place at Saratoga, “Col. Bill” McCall, “Billy” Brown, Russell Proctor, George Rogers and Eugene Angell, all of whom were at various time his partners in the business. He was also closely associated with “Billy” Hunt, “Chelsea Joe” McMahon, Barney Brown and Sanford Burlingame.
During his whole career as a gambler and gambling house proprietor, Briggs always maintained a clean slate among the fraternity. It was his chief pride that he was universally regarded as an “honest” gambler. Polite, well-mannered, genial and widely acquainted with men and affairs, he gained a reputation outside the gambling houses as being always a gentleman.
During the later years of his life, especially with the gambling business, Briggs acquired a taste for beautiful pottery. He went miles to look at a picture, or a vase, or a bit of chinaware.
HOUSE BECOMES STOCKED
His home on Dexter street gradually became stocked with valuable treasures he picked up in out-of-the-way places. He bought a plate here, a piece of sevres there, and a unique vase in another place, until at last one room of his home contained thousands of dollars worth of exceptional examples of the potter’s art.
He like fine rugs and tapestries and antique furniture, and got together collections of these things, as well as paintings and sketches by recognized artists. These were all placed in his home, and he delighted in showing and explaining them to friends and strangers alike who were interested.
Briggs also had a hobby for fine horses and dogs, and at various times kept a number of both. He was a familiar figure at the speedway races, and at one time maintained a kennel of 16 pedigreed dogs. For a little while, too, he was deeply interested in fancy fowl and pigeons and had scores of them, always of the finest breed. Never would he sell any of his pets. If a friend expressed a desire for a dog or a fancy pigeon, it was given to him; never sold.
Though twice married, Mr. Briggs never had children. Being fond of them, he made friends of the little ones of his neighborhood, and many were the presents that they received. At Fourth of July it was his delight to go to a store where fireworks were on sale, buy the whole stock and present it to the boys and girls of his acquaintance.
To his friends Briggs was always generous. He could always be depended upon to “help out” any of them in time of need, and more than once was known to indorse notes which he knew would never be paid until he paid them. A strange and likeable combination of gambler, artist and philanthropist, it was “Steve” Briggs to those who knew him, and they were many.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death Notice of Stephen H. Briggs
Providence Journal newspaper
July, 1913
DEATHS
BRIGGS – In this city, on the 20th inst., Stephen H., husband of Janett S. Briggs and son of the late Stephen and Rebecca Briggs.
Funeral service at his late residence, 190 Dexter street, Wednesday afternoon, the 23rd inst., at 1 o’clock. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Deceased was a member of Providence Lodge No. [1?], B. P. O. Elks.
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