"The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Saturday, March 23, 1901 HIS HEART WAS AS BIG AS HIS BODY Heaviest Man Ever Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Kansas City, Kas. The body of one of the largest men ever buried in Oak Grove cemetery in Kansas City, Kan., was interred there yesterday afternoon. The body was that of Zene GOODNOW, who died Wednesday night at his room over his saloon at Union avenue and Santa Fe street. The funeral services were held at the Stewart avenue M.E. church, in Kansas City, Kan., and were largely attended by friends of the deceased and of his widowed mother, Mrs. Helen GOODNOW, his only surviving relative. A special casket was necessary for the remains, and the grave was the largest ever made in the cemetery. Zene CONTENOT, or GOODNOW, as his name was usually spelled, was a giant among men. He was three inches over six feet tall, and weighted 337 pounds. He was a native of southern France, from which country his parents emigrated when he was 4 years old. GOODNOW was an engineer in early life, running on trains through Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. When a young man he was of slender build, and at 25 years of age weighted only 150 pounds. While railroading he began to grow fleshy, and in 1880 left the railroad and started a saloon in East St. Louis. In 1884, he came to Kansas City and opened a saloon. Since 1891, he has been in business at Santa Fe street and Union avenue. While of such enormous proportions, Mr. GOODNOW was always able to get around easily, and as his aged mother expressed it, was "real spry on his feet." He would open the saloon in the mornings and frequently wait on customers, though it was with difficulty that he could get behind the bar. He was of a jovial disposition, good hearted and generous. He made no enemies. His tenderness toward his mother was proverbial among his acquaintances. Mrs. Helen GOODNOW, the mother, is 77 years of age. She lives at No. 40 Garfield avenue, in Kansas City, Kas. Fourteen years ago she buried her husband in Union cemetery, Kansas City, Mo. She is a large woman, though but little above the average in weight, and of the average height. None of her family were inclined to corpulency. ====================================================== (I have no connection with this family but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful.) johnobrien@kc.rr.com ======================================================