Orange County Sheriff David W. Mizell was shot and skilled in an ambush

Date in History: 

21 Feb 1870

1870 – Orange County Sheriff David W. Mizell was shot and skilled in an ambush while on his way to arrest cattlemen Moses E. Barber near Holopaw in what is now Osceola County on this date. The ambush stemmed from early disagreements over the payment of taxes on cattle. Moses Barber refused to pay what he believed to be unfair taxes on his cattle, and as a response Mizell and his family would take his cattle as payment for delinquent taxes. Barber publically warned Mizell not to step foot on his property, but on this date in 1870 he did, resulting in his death. Within weeks, revenge killings occurred on both sides, purportedly resulting in over 13 deaths as a result of the original feud. Today, people can visit the old Mizell family homestead at Harry P. Leu Botanical Garden in Winter Park.

  • David W. Mizell

Relevant Year: 

1870

Relevant Month: 

02

Relevant Day: 

21