Background
Beckwith was born near Coveville, New York (in Saratoga County) on October 22, 1838. Attended private schools in Troy, New York, Philadelphia, Worcester, Massachusetts, and a military institution in New Haven, Connecticut.
United States representative politician
Beckwith was born near Coveville, New York (in Saratoga County) on October 22, 1838. Attended private schools in Troy, New York, Philadelphia, Worcester, Massachusetts, and a military institution in New Haven, Connecticut.
He moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1860 and engaged in the manufacture of iron. He was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-first Congress, serving in office from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1891, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress. After leaving Congress, he resumed manufacturing pursuits.
He returned to the State of New York and settled on a farm in the town of Chatham in Columbia County, New York in 1897 and engaged in the management of his farm until his death near Chatham Center on March 27, 1921.
He was interred in Chatham Center Rural Cemetery.
He was member of the board of aldermen in 1882, and Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey from 1885 to 1889.