Summarizing early dates-
"Roll On, Buddy" appeared in lines by Robert W. Gordon, 1924. "Roll On, Johnnie," may have been heard in 1891 (Archie Green, 1972, "Only a Miner," Univ. Illinois Press; Norm Cohen, 1981, "Long Steel Rail," Univ. Illinois Press).

Dorothy Scarborough published lines including the 'nine-pound hammer' collected by her in 1925 ("On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs").

Nine-pound hammer- kill John Henry-
But 't won't kill me, babe- 't won't kill me.

If I live- to see December-
I'm goin' home, love- I'm goin' home.

See claims in thread 75316: Hammer


I'm goin' back- to the red-clay country-
That's my home, babe- that's my home.

The song became popular with the 1927 recording of "Nine Pound Hammer" by Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters (Brunswick 177). "Roll On John," Buell Kazee, appeared in 1927, and "Roll On Buddy," Bowman Brothers, 1928. Norm Cohen, "Long Steel Rail," p. 571-582.