George H. McDonald and Josie C. McDonald were Sutton County pioneers who married in Lampasas County in 1886 and came to Sonora in 1890 with their livestock. In 1895, they gave up ranching and moved into town, where they purchased the Wyatt Hotel in the heart of the business district. After George died on Dec. 24, 1899, Josie, known as "Mrs. Mac," remodeled and renamed the hotel the Hotel McDonald. She remained its sole proprietor for more than 55 years, until her death at age 86 on January 15, 1956. Their children were Estelle, Murdoch, and John Arthur, and John Arthur's children were Jo Alice Wehner, Jerry Stone, and Norma Lowry.