The Dawes family, famous in Ohio history, has its beginnings in Morgan County. Rufus Dawes, the father of Charles Gates Dawes, was born in Malta. The Dawes family also had a Muskingum River warehouse in Malta. Charles Gates Dawes, the oldest son of Rufus and his wife, Mary Gates Dawes, was the vice-president of the United States under Calvin Coolidge. He also was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Most people now would recognize the name Dawes because of the Dawes Arboretum near Newark, Ohio.

Charles Gates Dawes also composed music. In 1912 he composed the piece he called "Melody in A Major," which was relatively popular in its day. In 1951 lyricist Carl Sigmun put words to the tune and "It's All in the Game" was "born." Tommy Edwards went on to record the song, and in 1958 it became No. 1 on the billboard chart. and he sang this hit song on the Ed Sullivan show on September 14, 1958. Van Morrison and Elton John also later recorded the song.

Charles Gates Dawes thus became the only United States vice-president to have co-written a number one pop single.