Appalachian Goliath: The Tale of Tennessee's Strongest Man

Step into the world of Appalachian giants with the incredible tale of Joseph Jefferson Copeland, known to all as Big Joe, the strongest man in Tennessee. In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins bring to life the legend of a man whose feats of strength and size became the benchmark for tales of might in the 19th century.
Join us as we explore the life of Big Joe. We'll share anecdotes that are as heartwarming as they are jaw-dropping, including a Kentucky challenger who learned the true meaning of strength-not through combat, but over a meal and a barrel of whiskey.
Don't miss this extraordinary episode that proves, once again, they grow them big in Appalachia. Subscribe to our KZbin channel and to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or your favorite podcast platform.
Thank you for listening and remember to share these Appalachian stories with your friends.
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[@billyginnings2294]

Reminds me of a tale about the meanest man in Missouri. He had beaten all comers. A drummer came through and told of astrong man in Arkansas who could probably whip the Missouri champion. It weighed heavy on the missourian until he decided to find out. He walked to Arkansas, found the big man, and sat on a hill resting until he was ready to make a challenge. He saw the arkansawyer come out to seed a field. The guy carried the seed in a cotton sack and drug an A-harrow behind him covering it like an ox. After a while the missourian walk on down to the field and hailed the guy as he worked. The farmer stpped on a pass across the field to see what he could do for his visitor. The missourian says, "i hear your the toughest man in Arkansas". The farmer replied, " i guess thats so". The visitor said, "well, i just came to tellyou, you are the toughest guy in missouri too!"

[@vectlc]

Thanks for this great bit of history! It’s so interesting to hear it on podcast. I’ve read of my family history but this one is the best! Big Joe Copeland was my 3rd. Great Grandfather on my dad’s side. Dewey R. Copeland, Willy Copeland, Emlett Copeland, Col. Stephen Copeland, Big Joe Copeland. Virgil Copeland

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

We're glad you liked the story, Big Joe was a fascinating part of Tennessee history.

[@redevil7081]

My great grandmother and my grandmother, along with three of their sisters lived to one hundred plus. Both my grandfathers lived over 90 years, my mom and two sisters, one brother all lived to mid nineties.

[@johnt.chambers4204]

That's actually a bit of a misconception that people then didn't live as long as they do now. I personally think it is a lie that is sold by the medical comunity. I have my family tree back to 1604. There are eleven just in my genealogy that live to be over a hundred years old, and I know several other people who show the same thing in their's. Growing up in the Smoky Mountains, there probably wasn't a family there that didn't have at least one relative over a hundred. My grandfather was a hundred and one when he died of a heart attack while squirrel hunting. One of his daughters was 103 when she died. I knew both of them, so this wasn't just stories that were passed down. The oldest two in my line were two of my great great great Grandad's brothers. According to an old family bible, one of them was 108 and the other one was 112. In my family tree, anybody that didn't live to be atleast eighty probably died from an accident or some kind of disease.

[@robertqueberg4612]

In some families that is true, but in old country cemeteries you can find one large stone with the deaths of three or four children dying over a couple months. In my Grandfather’s family the fourth child died of pneumonia while the doctor was at the house delivering the sixth child, and nearly a month later the fifth child died of pneumonia also. The first born child lived to be 99 years and 10 months. I would guess that your statement is based on averages from death certificates. We are now entering a period where the average life expectancy is dropping due to heavy use of suicide drugs, smoking cancer sticks, and the acceptance of morbidly obese people.

[@Archivist_of_Stupendous_Wave]

What a way to learn some family history! -Brice Copeland

[@briancopeland4918]

Thanks for sharing this story! Brian Copeland

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Our pleasure!

[@gailgeer3101]

I live in an adjoining county and never heard this story. Thank you. Was very interesting.

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lostonwallace1396]

This guy sounds like someone like a Brian Shaw--but maybe even stronger! Superhero level strength, even!

[@donald2665]

Google Maximinius Thrax, who was said by the Romans who encountered him to be 8 Feet six inches tall, and was a Pituitary Giant, and a fully healthy enormously strong man. The Romans, who were part of an entire Army on Campaign near Bulgaria or in Bulgaria (Then called Thrace) had 24 of the strongest and most proficient wrestlers challenge Thrax one after the other and he defeated all handily, and afterwards raced a horse on foot. Thrax performed many feats of strength and his hands were so large that his thumbs alone were the diameter of his wife's wrist and he wore her wrist bracelet as a ring. Thrax could crush rocks in his hands. He was trained by the Roman Army in the ways of Roman fighting as a Legionaire, and although he began his Life as a Shepherd, he adapted well to the fighting and was a skilled and terrifying opponent. Next Google a man who more closely was like the Man in this Video Joseph Copeland- and there are photo's of him and he lived during the same time period as this man - and I am referring to Angus McAskill, who was Seven Feet 9 Inches tall and weighed just over 500 lbs. Angus was NOT a Pituitary Giant - just a Large man born of average Parents in Scotland and who emigrated to America where he resided in Maine as I recall. Angus, in his late 30's lifted a 2,700 plus LB Ship Anchor to his shoulder and walked down a Warf with it. Angus however was not a "fighter" so it is possible that Joseph Copeland would have bested him in a physical fight. I doubt that either however would have overcome Maximinius Thrax. There are no living Men who would have bested Thrax, Angus McAskill, nor likely Joseph Copeland in terms of raw strength.

[@terryowens8563]

One member in my family lived to be 117.. moms said her only problem was that she couldn’t see very well otherwise she was healthy…

[@GailMcCormick-x1w]

Great story! Enjoyed reading!!!

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Thank you!

[@larrythomas8802]

As a descendent of Isaac Thomas born in 1735, I am interested in stories of him, Bigfoot Spencer and Ole Hood.

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

I remember hearing about him when I was a kid in Tennessee.

[@becohamilton8861]

There was a race on the creek. Start line was upstream, finish line was down stream.. Each man got something that would float from start to finish line. One man chose a nettle. He won the race and married the chiefs daughter and became Chief Nettlecarrier. Years before white occupation the area was hunting ground. Tribes from near and far gathered in KY to decide who was hunting and when. No one was supposed to live on the hunting grounds. The tribe that lived here was fantastic at hide and seek. There are sink holes with bluff caves and a stream of clean water from end to end that they lived in. The town was Nettlecarrier then changed to Alpine. The creek the race was held on is named Nettlecarrier.

[@dennismartin5821]

Always wondered about that. Thanks for the explanation.

[@becohamilton8861]

@@dennismartin5821 Thats what I have read anyway..

[@robertqueberg4612]

Hello guys, An interesting story about the big people of Appalachia. In the opening of the video, you mentioned Marvin Bates and his wife Anna Swan Bates. They moved to Seville, Ohio after their retirement from the circus life. There is quite a lot of their history in Medina County, from the county historical society. Supposedly Marvin was 7’9” tall, and Anna was 7’11” tall. The rest of their material you can look up for another segment, as Marvin Bates was from Kentucky, and a Capt. in the Confederate Army. That should fit.

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Thanks for the story suggestion. We have done the story of Martin Van Buren Bates and Anna Swan a few times, as a video, a podcast and a short, all of which were very popular. In fact, Rod has ties to that family, which also includes Devil John Wright!

[@michaelduncan2151]

King's Mountain War.... October 7, 1780..... In South West Carolina.....!!!!!

[@babaoreally8220]

That song,”Big John”.

[@roberthand6436]

Loved the story! Big Joe is my 15th cousin, twice removed.☺

[@robertqueberg4612]

That is far enough out from you to forget about inviting him to a family reunion. He might be a bit less removed on your wife’s side of the tree. Those removal cousins are hard for me to straighten out.

[@marionmarcetic7287]

Women Under The Influence Of Adrenaline Have Been Known To Pick Up The Front End Of A Car To Save Their Children! Shalom And Amen!✝️✝️🛐🛐😇🌟🤗🙏🙏🙏🇨🇦🇮🇱♾️🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🗽🦅❤❤❤‼️

[@shadowears]

I will not dispute that this man was a very strong man but one thing he DID NOT do is pick up a 30 gallon keg plumb full of whiskey and drink out of it! A 30 gallon keg plumb full would weigh approximately 300 pounds!

[@williamhanley2566]

He might have been really thirsty.

[@xenathegoat8050]

As a young fella the most i ever lifted was 450 pounds but then i was only 6 foot tall. I did load a 55 gallon barrel or motor oil into the back seat of my 1966 Ford station wagon just cause it was free! great story. Texas.

[@Spiritual_Dad1-9]

I wouldn't think a man could lift 3/4 of a ton either, but they have.

[@shadowears]

@@Spiritual_Dad1-9 No duh Sherlock! I watch the Olympics! It is a simple task for body builders or weight lifters to dead lift 300 pounds of weights attached to a bar but to lift 300 pounds of weight in a big cylinder shaped object with no convenient handles and to casually drink out of it is something that no one will convince me of ever happening!

[@BobWilliams-y2i]

I don't know I wasn't there but I have seen a man take a 55 gallon drum of oil laying flat in the bed of a truck picked it up sit it down standing up

[@Firekeeper61]

Great presentation 👏Oldfirekeeper Great Smokey Mountains N.C

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Thank you

[@lesliekirkland4603]

Very boring