Thomas J. Smith

Thomas J. Smith
Born	June 12, 1830 New York City, New York
Died	November 2, 1870 (aged 40) Abilene, Kansas
Occupation	Boxer, Railroad worker, Lawman
Years active	1865–1870

Thomas James Smith, also known as Tom "Bear River" Smith, (12 June 1830 – 2 November 1870) was a lawman in the American Old West and briefly marshal of cattle town Abilene, Kansas. He was killed and decapitated in the line of duty.

Little is known of Smith's youth, though he was well known as a tough man and had been a professional middleweight boxer. Originally from New York City, where he worked as a police officer in New York City, he also served as a lawman in a few small towns in Wyoming, including Bear River, as well as in Kit Carson, Colorado, prior to his move to Kansas. While working as a police officer in New York City in 1868, Smith was involved in the accidental killing of a 14-year-old boy, after which he resigned and began working for Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska.

Smith received the nickname "Bear River" due to a stand he made during a skirmish with vigilantes while serving as a lawman in Wyoming. A vigilante group had lynched a railroad employee who was suspected of murder. Soon afterward, railroad employees retaliated against the vigilantes, resulting in most of the small town of Bear River City, Wyoming being burned to the ground, and a shootout between town citizens and mob members erupted. Smith stood both sides off until troops from Fort Bridger arrived and imposed martial law. Bear River City soon became deserted, another railroad ghost town.

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