He was born on February 28, 1831, in Cullen, Herkimer County, New York, the son of Assemblyman William C. Crain (1798–1865) and Perses Narina (Tunnicliff) Crain. He graduated from Union College. Then he studied law at Cooperstown, was admitted to the bar, and practiced with the firm of Barney & Butler in New York City. Later he became a partner in the firm of Stewart, Stallknecht & Crain.
He was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly (NYC 14th D.) in 1858.[1] In 1859, he married Hannah Ann Crocker (died 1914), and their children were New York D.A. Thomas C. T. Crain, Christobelle Crain and Davida Crocker Crain.[2] In 1877, he was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes as U.S. Consul in Milan and served until 1884.
He died on May 17, 1908, in New York City.[3]