Richard Keese

Richard Keese (November 23, 1794 – February 7, 1883) was an American jurist and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1827 to 1829. He was born on November 23, 1794, in Peru, Clinton County, New York, a rural community in the northeastern part of the state. Little is recorded about his early childhood, but his upbringing in a developing region of New York exposed him to the agricultural and commercial concerns that would later shape his public service and professional life.

Keese received his education in the common schools of the area, which provided the basic classical and practical instruction typical of early nineteenth-century rural New York. After completing his schooling, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. This early involvement in business gave him experience in local economic affairs and community leadership, and it helped establish his standing among his neighbors in Clinton County.

In addition to his business activities, Keese became involved in the legal and judicial life of his region. He served as a judge of the Clinton County Court, reflecting both his local prominence and his reputation for judgment and integrity. His work as a county judge placed him at the center of legal disputes and civic administration in Clinton County, reinforcing his role as a public figure and providing him with experience in interpreting and applying the law.

Keese’s political career reached the national level when he was elected as a member of the Jackson Party to the Twentieth Congress. Representing New York, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1827, to March 3, 1829. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, as the nation was experiencing the rise of Jacksonian democracy and debates over federal power, economic policy, and political reform. As a Jacksonian representative, Keese participated in the legislative process and the democratic deliberations of the era, representing the interests and concerns of his New York constituents during his single term in office.

After the conclusion of his congressional service, Keese did not seek or hold further national office. He returned to New York and resumed his earlier pursuits, continuing his involvement in local affairs and maintaining his role in the community. His combined experience as a merchant, jurist, and former member of Congress made him a respected figure in the region well into his later years.

Richard Keese spent the remainder of his life in his native area of northern New York. He died in Keeseville, a village that bears his family name and lies partly in Clinton County, on February 7, 1883. He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Keeseville. His long life, spanning from the early years of the republic through the post–Civil War era, reflected a career rooted in local service, judicial responsibility, and a brief but notable participation in the national legislative process.