Sheriff David William L. Mizell

David William L. Mizell

Sheriff David Mizell was shot and killed after being ambushed while trying to settle a dispute over the sale of several head of cattle. Sheriff Mizell set out with his son and another man to locate the suspects. As they were crossing a stream they were ambushed and Sheriff Mizell was mortally wounded. As he lay dying in his son's arms he asked that his death not be avenged.

Nevertheless, a posse was formed and captured the suspected triggerman. He was tied to a plowshare and tossed over the side of a boat. When he failed to sink the posse shot and killed him in a volley of rifle fire.

Sheriff Mizell had previously served with the confederate army during the Civil War and was survived by his wife and five children. He is buried in the Mizell Family Graveyard in Orlando, Florida.