Thomas M. Edwards (1795-1875) was born and died in Keene, New Hampshire. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1813, was admitted to the bar in 1817, and started practicing law in Keene. He was Postmaster of Keene from 1818-29 and served in the New Hampshire State House of Representatives in 1834, 1836, and from 1838-39. In 1845, he abandoned his law practice and supervised the construction of the Cheshire Railroad, serving as its first president. He served as president of the Ashuelot National Bank from 1853 until he was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses in 1859, serving until 1863. He was also president of the Ashuelot Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

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