According to notes in Brown, North Carolina Folklore, "Cripple Creek" was sung by Bascomb Lamar Lunsford in 1921; text of verse and music, p. 214, "The Music of the Folk Songs," Brown, North Carolina Folklore vol. Five. Also sung by Mrs. Arthur Moore, 1922, music also given. Stoneman would have been about 28 years old at this time, so it is possible, but Lunsford active at the same time, age about 50.

Note post above that the song was known in 1915.

Iron was mined in Wythe County, but lead was the most important mineral. Lead mined in Confederate times contributed to the Southern war effort. Lead was discovered in 1756 by John Chiswell and mining continued well into the 20th c. Coal was mined, but quantities were minor (my geographic error in post above) in Wythe Co. (Bland Co. was formed in part from Wythe and Tazewell Cos. about 1860, not sure of how boundaries changed).