I read somwhere that Foster was at a larger dinner party and he noticed some homeless travellers passing by the window. The image stayed with him and he wrote the song as a result.
There is another completely different song by the same title, sung by Jim Ringer but I don't know who wrote that one ?, I also only know of 4 verses by Foster. The last verse of the additional 2 on the other thraead remind me " My Old Kentucky Home". Foster was a great writer and I;m sure would not have to write almost he same words for both songs ?.