The Carter Family got the song from an itinerant singer/guitarist Lesley Riddle (Born: June 13, 1905, Burnsville, NC Died: July 13, 1980, NC).

"In Kingsport, Tennessee in 1928, Riddle met A.P. Carter, founding member of the Carter Family country band. Carter learned the song "Cannonball" from Riddle, and Riddle began accompanying Carter on his "song-collecting" trips throughout the Appalachian region. Carter would write down lyrics he liked, and it was Riddle's job to remember the music. Maybelle Carter, A.P.'s wife and guitarist for the band, is noted as having learned much in the way of guitar technique from Mr. Riddle."

That pust the song back to the early 20's at least. It also has a different section that is sometimes sung to that is different from the standard White House Blues songs.