Thomas Beekman
Thomas Beekman was an American politician and a United States [House of Representatives|U.S. Representative] from New York.
Biography
Beekman was born in Kinderhook, New York to John J. Beekman and Annatje Pruyn. His elder brother was Dr. John Pruyn Beekman, a member of the New York State Senate from 1845 to 1847.Beekman studied law and became an Attorneys in [the United States|attorney] and farmer in Smithfield and later Peterboro.
Career
Beekman served in local offices including as a town clerk, and was active in the militia as aide-de-camp to the commander of its 17th Division. Beekman was also active in the Anti-Masonic movement of the 1820s and 1830s.Elected as an National [Republican Party|Anti-Jacksonian] to the 21st [United States Congress|Twenty-first Congress], Beekman was U. S. Representative for the twenty-second district of New York and served one term, from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831. In 1831 he was an unsuccessful Anti-Masonic candidate for the New York State Senate.
Beekman later moved back to Kinderhook, where he farmed, practiced law, was active in several businesses, including the Kinderhook National Bank, and served as Columbia County Excise Commissioner from 1857 to 1859. After his retirement in the 1860s he spent summers in Kinderhook and winters living with his daughter in New York City.
He was married to Lydia Van Schaack.