Smith & Hodgkin

No Return Ticket Needed

Train Mystery

Among the names of firms that have done business in Keene, we find that of Smith and Hodgkins, boot and shoe dealers. As the affairs of this business were terminated in an unusual manner, we believe the story will be of interest.

The members of this firm were Asa C.Smith, fifty years of age, and Jason Hodgkins, about twenty years his junior. Business having come up which required the presence of one of the partners at Woburn, Mass., a great leather center, Mr.Hodgkins boarded the 9:50 am train at the old covered depot of the Cheshire Railroad, July 24, 1856 apparently in the best of health and spirits.

“Riding on the cars” at this date was still a somewhat novel experience, and we may imagine his friend and acquaintances waving him a somewhat envious “good-bye” little thinking they would never again see him alive.

After changing cars at Boston he was nearing his journey’s end, when suddenly, as the train approached West Medford, he was seen to pitch forward in his seat, and his fellow passengers, coming. To his aid found that he had died instantly. A dispatch containing the sad news was received by his partner in nKeene about five pm, and soon after the remains were brought to keene for burial. Mr.Hodgkins had many friends and his funeral was largely attended.

Mr.Smith made arrangements to continue the business, and on September 16, 1856 left the store in charge of a clerk and took the train to Boston for the purpose of transacting the same business which his partner had not lived to complete. But as his train neared Boston he was taken suddenly ill, and became insensible, and although he was rushed to a hospital and all that was possible done for him, he never regained consciousness, and on September 10th, he died. 

In this strange manner the affairs of this ill fated firm were terminated. No fiction writer would dare to invent a chais of circumstances so improbable. In less enlightened days their singular end would have been ascribed to the workings of an evil genius presiding over their affairs. Today the story merely reminds us that sometimes there is nothing quite so unbelievable as the truth. 

*note: I do not believe Keene ever has had an evil genius, but if anyone knows of any, the author of this book would be interested in learning more.