Just listened to "Rising Sun Blues" as performed by Clarence Ashley (vocal) and Doc Watson (guitar) recorded 1962. The cd notes repeat the story by Ashley about teaching it to Roy Acuff "shortly after World War 1," already enlarged upon by Stewie. Roy Acuff is mentioned for a "mid-thirties" recording.
I would still like to hear th original Ashley recording. Booklet notes to the 2-cd set "The Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, 1960 through 1962," Smithsonian Folkways 1994.