Stephen Wallace Dorsey

Background

Stephen Wallace Dorsey was born on February 28, 1842 at Benson, Vermont, United States. He was the son of John W. and Marie Dorsey.

Education

Dorsey received an academic education and moved to Ohio while still a boy.

Career

At the outbreak of the Civil War Dorsey volunteered and served in the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the Potomac, remaining in active service to the end. He rose to the rank of captain in the 16t Ohio Light Artillery. On the same day he was elected president of the Arkansas Central Railway Company. This was one of the many companies organized to defraud the state under guise of giving state aid to railroads.

By the close of 1871 he was interested in three railroad projects. The Helena World said of him: “He came here to promote his railroad interests.

He obtained state, county, and city aid, under the most solemn pledges.

By trickery, hocus-pocus and legerdemain the gauge of the road was changed from standard to narrow gauge, as adopted.

To-day we have a wheelbarrow road from Helena westward, costing nothing in comparison with the one he promised to come here to construct”.

From the state he secured indorsement of his railroad bonds to the extent of $1, 350, 000. Naturally he entered politics and soon after his arrival he became an influential member of the “machine. ” Here he could look after his railroad interests. The legislature elected him to the Senate and he took his seat Mar. 4, In his first session he introduced a bill to establish a “National Railroad Bureau for the General Government of the Railroads, ” but neither he nor any one else ever pushed this move for government control.

For several sessions he introduced bills for the organization of Oklahoma territory.

Most of his time seems to have been taken up with relief, pension, railroad, District of Columbia and post-office bills, but he exercised very little influence on legislation.

The Democrats having recaptured the state, he did not return to Arkansas.

He served as secretary to the Republican National Committee, of which he was a member, though not a resident of Arkansas, and conducted the campaign for Garfield in 1880.

In his first Congress he had manifested an interest in the post-office by introducing six bills and four resolutions relating to it.

Later in his career he became interested in the Star Routes, and in 1881, along with T. W. Brady, second assistant postmaster-general, and others, was indicted for conspiring to defraud the government of nearly half a million dollars.

Powerful political and newspaper influences were brought to bear in their behalf, and at the conclusion of the first trial the jury stood ten to two for conviction of Brady and nine to three for conviction of Dorsey, but in the second trial they were both acquitted.

M. C. Rerdell, Dorsey’s private secretary, pleaded guilty in the second trial.

Charges of jury- bribing were brought by both the prosecution and the defense, which led to further indictments and dismissal of officials.

Dorsey attributed his prosecution to the hostility of Postmaster-General James, and Attorney-General McVeagh, whose appointment as members of Garfield’s cabinet he had opposed.

After leaving Washington Dorsey conducted a cattle ranch and was interested in mining in New Mexico until 1892.

After that date he devoted his time to mining enterprises and investments.

Achievements

• Stephen Wallace Dorsey was an entrepreneur involved with railroads, ranching, mail delivery contracting, and mining.

Connections

Dorsey married Helen Mary Wack at Oberlin, Ohio on November 20, 1865. Later he married Laura, daughter of Job Bigelow of Washington and London. Three children were born of this union.

Father:

John W. Dorsey

Mother:

Marie Dorsey

Second wife:

Laura Bigelow

First wife:

Helen Mary Wack

References

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005