When I first spotted this monument, I assumed this young man had been killed in war. According to information I've found so far, the 4th Texas Regiment of the Spanish American War never left Texas. It was mustered in just a few months before the short war ended in late 1898. Capt McDonald died on October 22, 1899 not long before his 28th birthday. His parents were apparently quite proud of his service (their stone is to the left of his and they passed in 1910 and 1921) and I would assume by the elaborate stone that they were "prominent citizens" of Mexia. However, I've been unsuccessful in finding anything about them on the internet. So, let your imaginations fill in the blanks.......
