A. N. Bain, proprietor of the Charleston Foundry, Charleston; was born in Erie Co., Ohio, April 3, 1828; his father was a ship-carpenter, with a family of nine children; at the age of 14, Mr. Bain began working on a farm, which he continued until the spring of 1845, when he entered the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad shop at Sandusky, Ohio, as an apprentice, remaining there until 1852, and thoroughly mastering the machinist’s trade. He then went to New Albany, Ind., where he was married, Feb. 3, 1853, to Miss Catharine Caldwell, of that city, who was born in Appomattox Co., Va., Feb. 8, 1832. While in New Albany, he worked as a mechanic in the shops of the New Albany & Salem Railroad; in April, 1853, he removed to Terre Haute, Ind., and entered the foundry of Grover & Madison, and remained in their employ until April 1, 1857; he then came to Charleston, and, with his brother, William Bain, and George 0. Carr, erected a small building, 25×50 feet in size; Mr. Carr soon retired from the firm; they ran a general repair foundry till 1863, when they made their first stove, and enlarged their buildings, which now cover four town lots, while their trade extends from Indianapolis on the east, to the Rocky Mountains on the west; in 1869, Mr. Bain engaged in the stove, tin, and house- furnishing business, and built up a very large and successful trade; in 1874, he sold out and returned to the management of the foundry; his brother died in June, 1875; in addition to his foundry business, he owns a farm of 220 acres in Seven Hickory Tp., where he is largely engaged in stock-raising, keeping about two hundred and fifty head, including cattle, hogs, horses and mules; he also owns a farm of 170 acres in Douglas Co.; Mr. Bain was President of the Board of Trustees of Charleston two years. He has five children – Emma (a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, and now a teacher in the Charleston public schools), Fannie, Charles F., Katie and Nannie. Politically, Mr. Bain has been an active advocate of the principles of the Republican party since its organization, previous to which he was a Whig. He is outspoken and fearless in maintaining his opinions; as a business man, his success is due entirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management.
