Charles William Aplin was born on March 30, 1887 to Amanda Jane and William Luther Aplin. He was raised in Southern California, where his father worked painting buildings. Charles first came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1904, and then returned with his family to settle permanently in Las Vegas in 1905. Charles and his father William established a painting business that same year. Charles went to Bakersfield, California in 1910 to work in the oil industry, and it was there that he joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 1911.