During his governorship, he oversaw the initial efforts of the newly organized state railroad commission and board of health.

After leaving office, Ormsbee practiced law in Brandon and served on two federal commissions, one to negotiate a compromise with the Paiutes in Nevada to relinquish part of their Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation, and one to negotiate competing land claims in Samoa with commissioners from Germany and Great Britain.

He remained active in politics, including supporting the presidential campaigns of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

He practiced law until a stroke at age 80 caused him to retire, and he was the longtime president of the Brandon National Bank.

[1] On April 25, 1861, Ormsbee was elected his company's second lieutenant, and he served with the unit in Virginia during its entire three-month term.

[1] Ormsbee served the single two-year term permitted by the Republican Party's "Mountain Rule", and his administration included appointment of a commission to propose revisions to the state's education laws and overseeing the initial work of Vermont's new railroad commission and board of health.

[4] In 1887, President Grover Cleveland proposed to return to the former Confederate states battle flags that had been captured by Union troops during the Civil War.

[5][6] Ormsbee forwarded the resolutions to Cleveland, declaring they had "my unqualified and warmest approval" and "you may rest assured that they contain the sentiments of Vermont on this subject.

"[6] Cleveland rescinded his executive order, but in 1905 shifting sentiment led to unopposed passage of a federal law requiring the return of the flags.

[1] In September 1896, Ormsbee joined a number of Vermont luminaries in a train trip to William McKinley's hometown of Canton, Ohio to demonstrate their support for his presidential campaign.

[8] Roosevelt became president a week later, and in late August and early September 1902 returned to Vermont to spend several days campaigning for Republican candidates in that year's elections; Ormsbee presided over welcoming ceremonies during Roosevelt's September 1 stop in Brandon.

[11] Ormsbee practiced law until age 80, when a stroke caused him to retire though he continued to serve as the bank's president.