He Took a White Rose from Her Hair is a traditional song usually titled "The (Little) White Rose" and was first recorded in 1927 by Red Patterson and his Piedmont Log Rollers. Again the title was probably changed by the Carters to prevent copyright problems.

The song appears in print in 1929 jOAFL. I found this snippet on-line:

"O, Willie," I said with a smile,
"I'm sure I will have to say no."
He took a white rose from my hair
And said "Good bye, I must go.

Here's a version on-line from Alabama: http://books.google.com/books?id=ZG_VpWAciWsC&pg=PA290&dq=took+a+white+rose+folk+song&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

"The White Rose" was a favorite of WHAS radio radio star Frankie Moore and his Log Cabin Boys. They included the song in their 1936 songbook.

HE TOOK WHITE ROSES FROM HER HAIR- Carter Family 1935

Oh Willie my darling come back
I will ever be faithful and true
Oh Willie my darling come back
I'll forever be faithful to you

I remember once that he said
He loved me better than his life
He called me his darling his wife
Then asked me to be his own bride

Oh darling he said I am sure
Your heart is made of a stone
He took a white rose from my hair
Then left me a standing alone

The next day poor Willie was dead
He was found in the pond near the mill
Oh the clear precious waters so fair
That flows from the branch up the hills

His blue eyes were forever closed
And damp was his golden hair
And close to his pale lips was found
The white rose which he took from my hair