MIZELL FAMILY CEMETERY, Orlando, Orange County, Florida

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Thomas E. Cook, 
(oldorlandotours@yahoo.com).

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Notes: Located on the Grounds of the Harry P. Leu Gardens, at 1920 N. 
Forest Ave. near downtown Orlando. To get to Leu Gardens from downtown 
Orlando take U.S. 17-92 (Mills Ave.) north to Virginia Drive. Turn east on 
Virginia until you get to a left-hand turn in the street that turns Virginia 
into Forest Ave. Leu Gardens is on the left near the end of Forest Ave. 

The gardens are owned by the City of Orlando and are comprised of almost 50 
acres of botanical gardens, an historic home (the Mizell-Leu House Museum) as 
well as the small Mizell Family Cemetery. The Mizell family, who were early 
settlers in the Orlando area, once owned the land. The Cemetery approximately 
measures 25 by 40 feet, and is made up of some 36 graves, marked and unmarked. 
It is believed that all of interments are Mizell family members. There are 
only 11 gravestones with any information on them. In talking with the historians 
at Leu Gardens, one finds that there is little information as to who else from 
the Mizell family is buried here. 

The Mizells moved to the Orlando area around 1858. David Mizell purchased land 
on the south shore of Lake Rowena and started his homestead. He served in the 
military during the Third Seminole War and later, during the Civil War. In 1868 
he was made Sheriff of Orange County during Reconstruction. He was ambushed and 
killed by members of the Barber Family in 1870. His family continued to live on 
the property and in 1888 his son built the first part of the house that still 
stands there today.


On the south side of the site there is a monument with the following inscription:

In memory of
Pioneer settlers DAVID MIZELL (1833-1870), Orange County Sheriff;
Wife, ANGELINE AUGUSTA MAY (1837-1911), and their seven children:
MARY FRANCES m. W.R. SPEIR
SARAH ANN m. DAVID RUSSELL
WILLIAM DAVID m. MARY E. ARNOLD
LULA AMANDA m. HUMPHREY THOMAS ARNOLD
JOHN THOMAS m. JESSIE RODGERS
JOSHUA MONTGOMERY m. JOSEPHINE BYRD
DELLA BELL m. WILLIAM COLLIER HARPER
Sheriff Mizell was killed from ambush near Holopaw in the line of duty. His 
burial here by moonlight was first Masonic funeral service in Central Florida, 
the brethren coming from Apopka Lodge to conduct the rites. His grave began 
small family cemetery which today holes 36 members in marked and unmarked 
graves, including family plot of Ardie B. Russell, grandson of David and 
Angeline Mizell.

Erected courtesy, Robert G. Neel, Woodlawn
Memorial Park.


DUKE, Baby, b. 1943 "Baby of Olon and Mary Duke. Grandson Della Mizell Harper."
MIZELL, Mrs. A.A., b. Oct. 9, 1837 d. Oct. 25, 1971, "Erected by Lula"
MIZELL, Baby, no dates, "Infant dau. of W.D. and M.E. Mizell"
MIZELL, Baby, no dates, "Infant son of W.D. and M.E. Mizell"
MIZELL, D. Wl., b. Nov. 12, 1833 d. Feb. 21, 1870, "Erected by Lula"
MIZELL, W.D., b. Dec. 21, 1858 d. Oct. 23, 1883
RUSSELL, Ardie B., no dates, "Ardie B. Russell and family."
 - There are four head stones associated with the above marker. They are inscribed:
  Ardie, no dates
  Brother, no dates
  Mother, no dates
  Sister, no dates
STAFFORD, Leon B., b. July 13, 1908 d. Oct. 4, 1908, "Asleep in Jesus"

There are also 17 markers without inscriptions.