The
Barber-Mizell Feud
Two
brothers named Moses and William Barber came to Northern Florida from Georgia
in 1833, and settled near the present town of MacClenny. Though Indians killed William in 1841, the
barbers thrived and built one of the largest cattle empires in the state. The 1860 Federal Census listed Moses as the
owner of $21,400 worth of land and $116,180 of other property—including 100
slaves.
The
Civil War nearly brought the Barber empire to its knees. Federal forces seized the family’s cattle to
feed their invading armies, and seized their slaves as contraband. The ultimate blow came with the death of
moses’ son Isaiah at the battle of Gettysburg in 1863. This prompted the barbers to leave their home
of 30 years and move to their more remote properties south of present-day
Orlando, where they established a new ranch near Kenansville.
More:
8.
Aftermath