Born in Colchester, Connecticut, Daniels began his professional umpire debut on September 7, 1874, in the National Association.

That inaugural season he called 45 games, one which was the first major league no-hitter, when George Bradley of St. Louis Brown Stockings blanked the Hartford Dark Blues on July 15, a 2–0 victory.

In his first year with the American Association, Daniels was selected to umpire the deciding game between the St. Louis Browns and the Philadelphia Athletics.

In a move to keep the team solvent, he sold their two star players, catcher Connie Mack, and pitcher Frank Gilmore.

On March 21, 1932, Charles was found unconscious, lying in the snow on a country road where he had apparently fallen during a snowstorm, suffering from cuts and exposure.