Charles Young was born in 1864 in Mays Lick, Kentucky, to slave parents. In early 1865, his father fled to nearby Ripley, Ohio

 This thriving town was home to many abolitionists and, for decades, served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for people fleeing slavery.

From Ripley, Charles's father joined the 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, fighting in the final year of the Civil War. After his father was discharged in 1866, the entire family settled in Ripley, where Charles grew up.

While Charles was growing up, his parents placed great importance on education. He was often homeschooled by his mother, who, although a slave before emancipation, was literate. With the help of his mother and the guidance of educators who also served as mentors, Charles excelled in school, graduating at the top of his class in 1881, while also becoming a talented musician and a polyglot. He was fluent in Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and German.

After high school, Charles became a teacher at a local school. A couple of years later, encouraged by his father, Charles took the entrance exam to West Point. He scored the second highest in his district, receiving admission after the leading applicant chose not to enroll.

At West Point, Charles experienced a lot of racism and often felt alone. For a time, he had to endure the "silent cure," a form of hazing in which people ignored him. However, he overcame the difficulties with the help of some students and faculty, graduating in 1887.

After graduation, Charles served in the Army for twenty-eight years, starting as a second lieutenant, then captain, and finally colonel. During these years he also taught in the military science department at Wilberforce College and was the first black superintendent of a national park, taking the position at Sequoia National Park in 1903.

Charles died in 1922. He was the highest-ranking black officer in the army at the time.