Charles Lukens Huston was born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1856, the second son of Dr. Charles Huston (1822-1897) and Isabella Pennock Huston (1822-1889). His maternal grandmother, Rebecca Webb (Pennock) Lukens (1794-1854) had inherited the Brandywine Iron Works & Nail Factory founded by her father Isaac Pennock in 1810. After Rebecca Lukens' death the elder Huston assumed control as Huston, Penrose & Company.

Charles L. Huston entered the family business as a bookkeeper in 1875. He was put in charge of the puddling mill in 1879, the plate mills in 1882 and the Open Hearth Department in 1891. He became a partner in 1879, and the firm was restyled Charles Huston & Sons in 1881. Upon incorporation as the Lukens Iron & Steel Company in 1890, C.L. Huston became second vice president. At his father's death, his brother Abram Francis Huston (1852-1930) became president and C.L. Huston vice president and works manager. Both brothers retired in 1925.

Charles L. Huston took an active part in religious and civic affairs. He was Director of the Poor for Chester County from 1907 to 1940, in which capacity he was greatly involved in the work of the Chester County Home and Hospital for the Insane. He was involved for most of his life in the Young Men's Christian Association and in the organization of the Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the National Association of Evangelicals, vice president of the World's Christian Fundamentals Association (1920-46) and a strong supporter of the Church's foreign missionary work and the Prohibition movement. He died at Coatesville, Pennsylvania on March 14, 1951.