Home > United States of America > Iowa > Woodbury County > Anthon > Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery > Bernard A. Coyne

Bernard A. Coyne

Birth	:	27 Jul 1897 Oto, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	20 May 1921 Oto, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery, Anthon, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.3812510, -95.8818340
Description	:	2nd child born to: Sylvester Coyne & Catherine O'Connell Bernard Coyne, an Eunuchoidal Giant [daddy long legs syndrome], was one of the tallest men in the world and mention was made of him in the Guiness Book of World Records. He lived with his family in the tiny town of Oto, Woodbury Co., Iowa. At this time - 2006 - the quaint town still maintains a population of only about 100 residents. In 1918, Bernard was rejected for military service in the U.S. Army, undoubtedly because of his extreme heighth and other contributing problems stemming from the medical syndrome with which he was born.... Read More	2nd child born to: Sylvester Coyne & Catherine O'Connell Bernard Coyne, an Eunuchoidal Giant [daddy long legs syndrome], was one of the tallest men in the world and mention was made of him in the Guiness Book of World Records. He lived with his family in the tiny town of Oto, Woodbury Co., Iowa. At this time - 2006 - the quaint town still maintains a population of only about 100 residents. In 1918, Bernard was rejected for military service in the U.S. Army, undoubtedly because of his extreme heighth and other contributing problems stemming from the medical syndrome with which he was born. Information garnered from his World War I draft registration forms indicates he had black hair and blue eyes. His siblings were: Mary Loretto, known as "Loretto" - married John Kvidera Thomas John - married Emma Dixon Hugh - married Anna Lancaster Joseph Cornelius, known as "Neil" - married Frances Hoag Maurice Sylvester - married Rita Carr ----------------- OBITUARY TRANSCRIPTION: THE CORRECTIONVILLE NEWS Correctionville, Woodbury Co., Iowa May 26, 1921 Page 1 ANTHON GIANT DEAD Youth Was Known as Talest (sic) Man in America Bernard Coyne, twenty four year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Coyne of the Anthon community, died Friday, May 20, after an illness of several months. He was known as the tallest man in America, was eight feet eight inches tall and weighed 300 lbs. He was well known in this community as most persons who have lived here for any length of time have seen him. He was in Sioux City last fall at the time of the fair and at the same time ordered a pair of shoes which were on display, size 24. One of the sideshow attractions at the fair was a Holland giant who claimed to be the tallest man in the world, but when the boy's father challenged him he didn't back his claims. A special casket had to be ordered for the funeral. The young giant was born on his father's farm six miles southeast of Oto, Iowa, July 27, 1897, and has resided in that locality since birth. He had been failing in health since last September. Mr. Coyne has four brothers and one sister who are considerably smaller than their brother. Physicians who examined the giant could give no reason for his unusual growth. He had refused several offers to exhibit himself, but at one time did appear on a fair circuit. The giant, besides his parents, is survived by four brothers, Thomas Coyne, Hugh Coyne, Neil Coyne, and Morris Coyne, and one sister, Loretta (sic) Coyne, all living near Anthon. Funeral services were held in the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Anthon Monday morning with interment made in St. Joseph Cemetery. ------------------- NEWS ITEM FROM 1918: Anthon Herald Anthon, Woodbury Co., Iowa Oct. 10, 1918 S. Coyne and son, Bernard, spent last week at the Guthrie County fair and left today for Omaha to attend the Ak-Sar-Ben. Bernard, who is doubtless the tallest man in the world, is attracting much attention. He has had various offers from proprietors of the big shows, but prefers to remain at his home five miles southwest of Anthon. He was 21 years of age the 27th of July, stands eight feet and one inch tall, weighs 275 pounds, and is as healthy as any person. His height has increased two inches in the past year and he hasn't stopped growing either. Many have wondered if his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Coyne, are large people. For their information we might say that they are not. Mrs. Coyne is five feet two inches tall, and weighs about 150 pounds, while Mr. Coyne is only five feet eight inches tall and weighs about 200. Just where Bernard gets his abnormal height is not known. He has four brothers and one sister, one of the brothers being only 18 years of age, but six feet two inches tall and a splendid speciman of manhood. ∼Called "The Cherokee Giant", "The Giant of the World" or "The Youthful Giant", 8'2"-tall, 300-pound Bernard Coyne really was one of the tallest men who ever lived. One of six children, he was born on a farm at Oto City, Iowa, on July 27, 1897. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Coyne, and their other children were tall, but not exceptionally tall, but Bernard stood over seven feet tall by the time he was a teenager. All the young giant's clothes and shoes were custom-made; he knitted his own sweaters, and his mail-order shoes were often too small by the time they arrived, so his parents had to cut the toes out of them. He rode in the back seat of a car with his feet sticking out the door, slept in a special bed, and sat in a special chair at the family dining table. Despite these difficulties, he was a shy, gentle, good-natured person whose friends and family remembered him fondly. Despite his grand-sounding "Giant of the World" title, Bernard never did get to see much of the world. He declined numerous offers from sideshows on the advice of his devoutly Catholic parents, who feared God would punish them. He did, however, agree to tour the state of Iowa as an independent attraction during the 1919 fair season. In September of 1920 he fell ill with liver disease. When he died on May 21, 1921, at the age of 24, he was laid to rest in a the Catholic Cemetery near Anthon, Iowa. His coffin measured nine feet and the box that contained it measured ten.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Bernard A. Coyne's memorial?
Bernard A. Coyne's memorial is located at: Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery, Anthon, Woodbury County, USA.
When did Bernard A. Coyne death?
Bernard A. Coyne death on 20 May 1921 in Oto, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Bernard A. Coyne's memorial?
Latitude: 42.3812510
Longitude: -95.8818340

Family Members:

Parent

Sylvester Coyne

(1868 - 1939)

Catherine “Kate” O'Connell Coyne

(1868 - 1961)

Siblings

Loretta Coyne Kvidera

(1894 - 1957)

Thomas John Coyne

(1900 - 1994)

Hugh M. Coyne

(1902 - 1980)

Joseph Cornelius "Neil" Coyne

(1905 - 1969)

Maurice Sylvester Coyne

(1908 - 1993)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery
Anthon, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3812510, -95.8818340

2. Oak Hill Cemetery
Anthon, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3953018, -95.8731003

3. Lucky Valley Cemetery
Anthon, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3816986, -95.9417038

4. Wolf Creek Township Cemetery
Anthon, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4033700, -95.9411600

5. Pleasant Hill Baptist Cemetery
Anthon, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4148300, -95.9420000

6. Peiro-Bethel Cemetery
Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3355103, -95.9762115

7. Saint Marys Cemetery
Oto, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2955458, -95.8758426

8. Fairfield Cemetery
Correctionville, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4710999, -95.9210968

9. Oto Cemetery
Oto, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2764015, -95.9032974

10. Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Midway, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3667500, -95.7281500

11. Rock Cemetery
Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4132996, -95.7288971

12. Correctionville Cemetery
Correctionville, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4728012, -95.7705994

13. Flemming Family Farm Cemetery
Correctionville, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4888000, -95.7958000

14. Westfork Township Cemetery
Climbing Hill, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3399990, -96.0773130

15. Greenwood Cemetery
Pierson, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5318985, -95.8600006

16. Wellington Cemetery
Smithland, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2220000, -95.8993000

17. Hollister Cemetery
Smithland, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2219009, -95.8989029

18. Little Sioux Township Cemetery
Smithland, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2233009, -95.9313965

19. Cushing Cemetery
Cushing, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4658012, -95.6928024

20. German City Cemetery
Holly Springs, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2695000, -96.0479000

21. Willow Cemetery
Holly Springs, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2705994, -96.0588989

22. Good Hope Cemetery
Pierson, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5391998, -95.7885971

23. Arlington Cemetery
Moville, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4968987, -96.0575027

24. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Danbury, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2498660, -95.7189930