The
Barber-Mizell Feud
Three
brothers named William, Luke, and David Moselle fled religious persecution in
their native France to settle on the eastern shore of North Carolina prior to
the American Revolution. Luke’s
descendants later removed to Alabama, William’s to South Georgia, and David’s
to Florida.
A
grandson of the original David, bearing the Anglicized name of David MIZELL,
settled near present-day lake city in the 1830’s. It was there that Indians attacked his family in 1838, killing
two loved-ones.
David
Mizell, Jr., enlisted in the ensuing war against the Indians and was stationed
at Fort Christmas. He enjoyed his stay
in Central Florida so much he convinced several of his kinfolk to settle in and
around Orlando. Four of his sons fought
in the Confederate Army during the Civil War: Thomas and Joshua, who were both
killed in action; John, who rose to the rank of captain; and David, who saw
little action as he was ill for most of his enlistment.
Despite
his career as a Confederate officer, Captain John Mizell was somehow able to
gain favor with Florida’s Reconstruction government after the war. He was appointed a judge and persuaded the
governor to appoint his brother David as Sheriff of Orange County. These appointments made the Mizells the most
powerful political family in the area.
But, it also caused many of their neighbors to resent their cooperation
with the oppressive carpetbaggers.
More:
8.
Aftermath