The family into which Charles Dawes was born in 1865 had been successful in the fields of politics, business and military service for generations. Charles and his siblings would carry on those traditions.

Charles had three brothers, all of whom became successful in the fields of oil, public utilities and banking. One of them, Beman Dawes, represented the family’s Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1905 to 1909.

The Dawes family members were staunch Republicans who got their expectations of accomplishing great things from both sides of their family. One of their mo...