These additions gave to the delegation a prestige which its numbers did not always secure.
John H.Ketcham, who had attained the rank of brigadier-general by successful service in the field, took his seat in this Congress, destined to hold it for a long period, destined also to exert large political influence without ever once addressing the House of Representatives or an assembly of the people.

Reuben E.Fenton, after long and able service in the House, was now transferred to the gubernatorial chair of his State.
Three new men of note entered from Pennsylvania--John M.Broomall, an independent thinker and keen debater, inflexible in principle, untiring in effort; Ulysses Mercur, whose learning as a lawyer and whose worth as a man have since received their reward in a promotion to the Supreme Bench of his State; George V.Lawrence, one of the best known and most sagacious political leaders of Western Pennsylvania, inheriting his capacity from his honored father, Joseph Lawrence, who died during his membership of the Twenty-seventh Congress.

John L.
Thomas, junior, entered as the representative of the city of Baltimore; and the venerable Francis Thomas returned from his hermitage and his weird life in the Alleghanies.
Ohio grew even stronger than before, and her delegation was again recognized as the leading one of the House.

Samuel Shellabarger, John A.Bingham and Columbus Delano re-entered with reputation already established by previous service in Congress.

William Lawrence, a conscientious legislator and careful lawyer, entered from the Bellefontaine District.