The White House Cookbook Dedicated to Francis Folsom Clevland - Bride of the Whitehouse (my maternal grandmother's favorite cookbook, judging by its wear.

Makes a clear distinction between the fried fritters mentioned above and what it labels Southern Corn-Meal Pone or CORN DODGERS

"Mix with cold waater into a soft dough one quart of southern corn-meal, sifted, a teaspoon of salt, a tablespoon of butter or lard melted. Mold into oval cakes with the hands and bake in a very hot oven, in well greased pans. To be eaten hot. The crust should be brown." page 221....(copyright/publisher page missing.)

Burl Ives, Song in America our Musical HeritageWayfairer Music Company, 1962, p. 164 lists the song as "Greer County Bachelor"

Given:
1. the age of the cookbook
2.the "bachelor simplicity of the recipe"
3. the song lyric "My bread is corn-dodgers, both solid and tough."

I would conclude the above, without any levening (ie baking powder or soda) , to be the "authentic" item you are seeking.