According to Meade et al.'s Country Music Sources (p. 231), it appeared in Wehman's Collection of Songs, #17 (Jan. 1888). Before Lunsford and the Carters, there were two recordings:
Lulu Walsh - Walter Morris (11/06/1926. Atlanta, Ga.)
Lulu Wall - Bill Chitwood (10/03/1927. Atlanta, Ga. OK uniss)
~Masato