Katey, This was originally "The Epic Ride of Paul Venerez" by poet Eban Rexford from Shioctin, Wisconsin. It went West & got a tune--then ceme back East & was found, with it's new tune, by a song collector for the Library of Congress Archive of Folksong, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin---about 10 miles from it's origin. This is the true wonder of the tradition, the folk process, that makes this wondrous treasure hunt so enthralling for me.

Art Thieme

P.S.---I put a version of this (some shorter than your printed text) on my first LP---me live at the Old Town School of Folk Music--around '75 or '76... It's one of my favorite songs.

Music in the Wild 1988 Art Thieme (Full Session) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYrNMNNj1mI