Background
Putnam was born in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont, the youngest of nine children of Asa Putnam and Anna (Collins) Putnam.
lawyer politician representative
Putnam was born in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont, the youngest of nine children of Asa Putnam and Anna (Collins) Putnam.
He attended the common schools and studied law in Skaneateles, New York, supporting himself by teaching.
In 1816, he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Attica, New York in 1817. He became involved in politics and held several offices in Attica, He was elected as a Whig to the 25th United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Patterson, holding office from November 7, 1838, to March 3, 1839. Putnam was appointed as Surrogate of Genesee County in 1840, an office he held until the division of the county.
He was then appointed as Surrogate of Wyoming County, remaining in office until 1843.
He was elected as a Whig to the 30th and 31st United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1847, to March 3, 1851. After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law.
Putnam died on September 20, 1855 in Attica, and is interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica, New New York
He was a Whig member of the United States. House of Representatives, and served in the New York Senate. He was a member of the New York State Senate (Eight District) from 1843 to 1846, sitting in the 66th, 67th, 68th and 69th Legislatures.