Charles W. Aplin arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1905, a young man of eighteen years. At that time, Las Vegas existed mainly as a tent city; the Los Angeles-San Pedro-Salt Lake Railroad had only recently established the site as a station on its route. Aplin quickly associated himself with the growth of the town, serving as a teamster or drayman, as an odd-jobs worker, and finally as a carpenter and painter. He convinced his parents to move to the new city from California, and thus they also became pioneers in southern Nevada.

The family members were builders of southern Nevada in the most basic sense. In his middle years, Aplin gave up his painting and carpentry contracting business to take a position with the Nevada state highway department—a career he followed for twenty years, retiring in 1962 at the age of seventy-five.

Through all of his adult life, Charles Aplin found pleasure and satisfaction in membership in a number of fraternal orders, particularly the Eagles lodge. He was always an active participant in the organizations, holding offices and, in later years, he was awarded life memberships in recognition of long years of service. He also served a term as city councilman and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of North Las Vegas.