Mrrzy, the "E-ri-e was 'risin" song, or I should say an earlier version of it, appeared as early as the 1870s in a Harrigan and Hart songster under the title "Buffalo," and the theme of "terrible storms and heavy weather" stretches back even further than that to "The Raging Canal/Kanawl" of the 1840's.

The folk revival version of "The E-ri-e" might be the one you are more familiar with, as performed by people like The Weavers. I believe that came about mid 20th century, perhaps influenced by the version in Carl Sandburg's book of the 1920's.