Originally from Indiana, Chain moved as a child to California. Upon the death of her mother in 1862, she was sent back to Indianapolis where she was raised by her aunt. In Indiana, she studied art at the Methodist College and earned a degree from the Illinois Female College (presently MacMurray College.)

She studied in Europe and in New York under George Inness.

Chain settled in Colorado in 1871. Her husband owned a bookstore in downtown Denver where artists often exhibited. In 1877 she opened a studio where she painted and taught lessons. Her most accomplished pupil was Charles Partridge Adams who received his only formal art training from Chain.

She was a founding member of the Le Brun Art Club and her work was included in the first exhibition of the Denver Art League.

Chain traveled and painted extensively throughout Colorado and the Southwest. She was the first woman to paint the Mount of the Holy Cross on location as well as the first female to sketch the Grand Canyon of Arizona on site.

She was drowned in the China Sea by a typhoon in 1892 during a two year trip around the world.