Museum Matters

Robert Harry McCain, his wife Martha Ann and daughter Ira moved from Arkansas to Texas in the late 1800s. They eventually moved from Desdemona to Dublin on July 31, 1888. He became interested in the little town and soon became a leading citizen in Dublin. (Dublin Progress, June 17, 1949) As an attorney, it was with his help that the community became incorporated into an honest to goodness town in April 1889. McCain was elected Mayor on April 15, 1889 along with J. E. Bishop as Marshal and aldermen Jack Hurt, H.A. Smith, John Harber, A.A. Chapman and Nick Keith. He served as mayor for 10 years.

He was an organizer of the G.A.R., Grand Army of the Republic gathering that took place in Dublin around the turn of the century. It was a big deal for the city because of the number of veterans who would arrive by train then go to the city park to camp out. Those veterans exchanged stories, played baseball and enjoyed camping out together. Many veterans returned year after year.

An article in the April 1897 Dublin Progress stated that H. R. McCain and R. B. Spencer were in a race for Mayor. The article said that both were enterprising and energetic gentlemen. McCain Won.

McCain had a law office upstairs in one of the buildings along with associate Taylor Daniel. McCain had been a friend to many citizens in town when they needed help. There was a murder in Dublin in December of 1897. He was asked to be the defense attorney for Tom Wright in the case. He lost the case possibly because of his ill health and he had never tried a criminal case before. McCain died before the case could be appealed. His family thinks that the defendant must have been an honest man because McCain was serving as mayor while defending him. Two days before the murder, as Tom Wright was stepping on the platform at the train station, Dublin Constable John Adams threatened to shoot Wright. McCain caught the Constable’s arm while he was pulling his pistol. McCain then stood between them. The three men eventually went their own way. (Oral History interview with great grandson John McCain) (Tom Wright letter, Dublin Progress Nov. 10, 1899) Mayor McCain and his wife Martha were active in the Episcopal Church. In 1898 as mayor of Dublin, he called a meeting to support the young men who enlisted in the defense of the country. That must have been for the Spanish-American War.(Dublin Progress, July 1 1898) He served with the fire department while serving as mayor and may have been instrumental in starting it. The family had a store, the McCain Trading Company, that sold groceries, liquor, cigars, wagons and other items.(Dublin Progress, July 22, 1892) In March 1899 McCain appointed a committee to raise $10,000 dollars for a railroad machine shop for the Texas Central Railroad and purchase 20 acres of land for the shops. He appointed citizens to the committee to be in charge of the m a t t e r . (Dublin Progress March 31, 1899) By August $10,529.50 was raised with several citizens donating part of the land for the shops to be built on. (Dublin Progress Aug. 5, 1899) He established the First National Bank of Dublin with H. A. Smith as President and himself as Vice-President. In February of 1898 the Dublin Progress said that Mr. McCain wasn’t feeling well. It was during that time that he started experiencing failing health. (Dublin Progress, Feb. 25, 1898) He passed away in July 1899.