Richard Blain, for the last four years Mayor of Galt, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Little) Blain, both natives of the County of Cumberland, England, where the son was born January 26, 1821. His father was in general business. In 1839 he came to Upper Canada, and at Dundas learned the millers’ trade with James B. Ewart, for many years a prominent manufacturer in that town. Mr. Blain worked for him five years in Dundas and ten in Galt, settling in the latter place in 1844. In 1854 he commenced milling with his brother, James Blain, leasing and afterwards purchasing the Dickson Mills, which he is still running. They have four run of burrs, and turn out from 25,000 to 30,000 barrels of merchant flour annually. Its brand is unsurpassed in this part of the Province, and it finds a ready market largely in the lower Provinces.
During the thirty-five years that Mr. Blain has been a resident of Galt, he has been in its municipality the greater part of the time. He was in the Council twenty-one years and has been Mayor since 1876; has also served as School Trustee, and has held, instead, nearly every office in the gift of the people.
He has been President of the Mechanics’ Institute, and is now President of the Grand River Mutual Fire Insurance Company, with headquarters at Galt, and of the Merchants’ Line of Steamboats, with headquarters at Hamilton.
He seems to take great pleasure, not to say pride, in engaging in any enterprise which will advance the interests of the town or community at large; no man, in this respect, in Galt, showing more public spirit.
He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church; has been warden, and has held other offices in that religious body, is delegate to the Synod. He is a kind hearted man, and a true friend to ,the poor.
The wife of Mr. Blain was Margaret Gillesby, of Hamilton, married in August, 1847. They have four sons and four daughters.