Three reasons for my interest in this song. First, it has been sung at funerals here in Stone County, Arkansas since I moved here about 40 years ago, and was no doubt sung previous to my move. Second, the writer of one of the versions grew up here in Stone County. Third, is I really like the song. Dale Rose, a dear friend and highly respected and capable co-worker did extensive research on the song/songs which is mentioned above and presented in a previous thread. When the song was sung here in the county, someone would usually mention that it was written by Stone county native Thomas Jefferson Farris. Dale discovered that the version sung here in the county was not Farris' version but one written by j. T. Ely. Folklore is sometimes more powerful than fact. The song is still introduced as having been written by Farris.