Britt, Peter, 1819-1905
Biography
Born in Obslalden, Switzerland, Peter (1819-1905) was the second son of Jacob Britt. At the age of 27 he went to America and became a citizen in 1850 in Indiana. He studied daguerreotyping in St. Louis under an early-day photographer, J.H. Fitzgibbon. Britt crossed the plains in 1852 with his camera to settle in Jacksonville.
He opened a studio (see photo 24-21) in 1854 to become one of the first studio daguerreographers in Oregon. W.H. Jennings of Oregon City was first in 1851. Although best known as the leading northwest photographer, Britt was a civic minded person. He owned land (almost 2,000 acres at one time), became a leading horticulturist, a mine owner, a money lender, and a good friend of Chinese laborers.
He retired in 1900 to spend more of his time with oil painting and in the greenhouse. In 1861, he married Amalia Grob (1822-1871), a widow with one son, Jacob (1854-1896). They had three children, Emil (1862-1950), Arnold (1864, aged three months), Amalia (1865-1954). None were ever married. Peter Britt attended the 1905 Lewis and Clark Expedition and there contracted a cold that led to pneumonia and his death later that year.
Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:
Barron's stage station
Ed. L. Schieffelin and Emil Britt on a wagon, 4 horse team, Hanna house
Horse and buggy, bulk: 18uu
Ten photographs.
Horse and buggy by a stream, Jacob Grob (?) in a buggy
Horse and carriage with women and children
Man on a cart with a dappled grey horse
Man with three deer heads
McFinly family, 1888
Two photographs.
McFinly family, with 2 women in a buggy, 2 men by horses and stage or wagon
Mollie Britt and friend in cart wearing sunbonnets
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