The Arcadian Newspaper, Arcadia Florida;
MRS. MARTHA JANE WHIDDEN:
Martha Jane Carlton was born in Hillsboro County, Florida, February 8, 1847. She married on Jan. 17, 1864, to James E. Whidden, at Wauchula, and they took up their residence on a farm in the Joshua Creek neighborhood in this county immediately afterward. Here the family home remained until about three weeks ago, when Mrs. Whidden decided to move to town, occupying her own property at 137 North Hernando Avenue. An attack of influenza brought the end speedily, on January 4, 1933.

Deceased was the only daughter in a family of twelve children. She became the mother of fourteen children, twelve of whom survive her. Her husband died April 4, 1903. The children are: Mrs. Sally Conner of Naples, Mrs. Jessie Robertson of Fort Ogden, Mrs. Eliza Arnold and Mrs. Ola Higginbotham of Arcadia, Mrs. Lula Harris of Wauchula, Mrs. Florence Trembley of Arcadia, Mrs. Edna Alderman of Fort Myers, Mrs. Luby Burrough of Arcadia, Jerry a. Willoughby D and Lacy Whidden of Arcadia, and Otto Whidden of Lakeport.

There are surviving also three brothers: Alderman Carlton of Nocatee, Jimmy Carlton of Hicoria and Charles Carlton of Fort Myers. Also, 48 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Older citzens of the county recall the numerous acts of kindness and help rendered by Mrs. Whidden in the pioneer days. Without any special training but with a natural knack at “doin’ for” sick people she rode over the country, ministering to the sick, and she attended at the birth of many of the citizens now living here. Despite the fact that she reared a large family of her own, she always seemed to find time to help others who were in need.

Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Baptist church, conducted by Dr. W.D. Nowlin, the pastor, assisted by Dr. A. J. Holt. Burial was in the Joshua Creek cemetery beside her husband.

Active pallbearers were Dr. J. M. Morqus, Mayor George M. Brown, braker, J.L. Dishong, Neil Newbanks, Abriel Whidden, and Claude Jones. Honorary pallbearers B.F. Welles, Lovick Holtzendorff, A.P. Hollingsworth, J.A. Parker, L.L. Morgan, A. E. Bennett, Tillet Mansfield, Frank Hays, John Hendry, Dan Shelfer, Carl Whidden, Roy Appleby.