DORSEY, Stephen W., politician, born in Benson, Vermont, 28 February 1842. He received an academical education, and removed with his father's family to Oberlin, Ohio. At the beginning of the civil war he enlisted in the national army, served in the west until 1864, was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, with which he remained until the close of the war. Returning to Ohio, he resumed business as an employee of the Sandusky tool company, was soon afterward made president of the company, and was elected on the same day, without his knowledge, president of the Arkansas central railway company. He removed to Arkansas, and was chosen chairman of the Republican County and state committees.

He was elected as a Republican to the U. S. Senate, serving from 3 March 1873, till 3 March 1879. During the presidential canvass of 1880 he was secretary of the Republican national committee, and did much toward securing the election of Garfield and Arthur. His services commanded the respect of his colleagues, so that he was tendered and accepted a banquet in New York, in February 1881. At the time of the star route exposures it was claimed that the necessary legislation was procured through his influence in the senate, in consequence of which he was indicted by the grand jury of Washington, and, as he failed to appear at the time appointed, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and for months it was impossible to ascertain his whereabouts. Later he appeared in court, and also addressed a card to the public in explanation of his connection with the mail contracts, chinning that his relations were disinterested except so far as they benefited his brother and brother-in-law, who held contracts. The first trial resulted in a disagreement, and at the second a verdict of "not guilty as indicted" was rendered. Mr. Dorsey has since been largely occupied with real estate and other interests in the far southwest.