From 1862 Tom Smith worked at the New York policeforce, but 1868 he left the force and hired with the Union Pacific Railroad. During his time at the railroad he was given the nick-name "Bear River" after fighting successfully with some Vigilantes (see 13.4 Vigilantes).
In 1870 he was appointed town marshal in Abilene. There he decided to outlaw all weapons in town. After forty-eight hours everyone had turned their weapons over to Smith, but he had had to knock down two thugs before they surrendered their weapons.
He had more trouble with the Texan cowboys, for they were very reluctant to surrender their weapons. Smith had to kill three of them in a duel in the "Old Fruit Saloon" before they complied. Luckily he was able to use his fists to convince most men to turn in their weapons.
In november 1870 he rode out to capture two men suspected of murder. Before he reached the house where they were hiding they shot him with a rifle, and as he lay wounded on the ground they ran out and killed him with an axe.
After Tom Smiths death Abilene once again became a wild town, and remaine that way until Wild Bill Hickok became town marshal there in spring 1871.