Appalachian Goliath: The Tale of Tennessee's Strongest Man 

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

Our pleasure!

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.

He might have been really thirsty.

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.

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

@@htepple 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!

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