Simeon "Uncle Sam" Whidden was born on December 18, 1850 in Hillsborough County when the present Desoto County and numerous other counties were part of it. He moved to present Desoto County in 1869 at Joshua Creek.

He married Elizabeth F. McEwen when he came to Joshua Creek in early 1869, where he homesteaded and established a grove and a cattle ranch. There were no schools at Joshua Creek when his children came along, so he moved to Arcadia in 1892 where they received their education. He bought another grove in Arcadia, and started his herd of cattle here, where they ranged as far away as Okeechobee. In 1910 he sold his cattle to the Parker Brothers Corporation.

He was self-educated, having learned the agricultural trade under his father, Willoughby Whidden. His mother was Eliza Pennington Whidden. The parents were both natives of Georgia and were born in 1799 and 1811 respectively.

He was a charter member of The First Baptist Church of Arcadia and served as deacon. He was Desoto County Treasurer at one time.

Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Whidden had 10 children ad all of them were born in Desoto County. They were:
Emma Florence Alderman
Mary Florence Alderman
Mary Kate Smart
Lula Martin
Ruth E. Robinson
Abriel Whidden
Martha A. Lopez
Cecilia V. Gammage
Alberta Lou Martin
Cora E. Ingram
and Lee Wright, who died at age 15.

Four of his children are senior citizens who are active in the Desoto County Historical Society (1989). They are:
LeLand and Nell Gammage
Kathleen Whidden Dallas
and Berndetta Whidden Johnson
Elizabeth Ingram Matthews, the wife of Dr. Matthews is also a granddaughter.