There are a number of variants, none dated except for recording dates. "The Ponsaw Train," in Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, No. 882, was "learned about 1898," and collected in Missouri in 1922. Randolph says "The Lakes of Ponchartrain" was "reported from the Middle West by Tolman and Eddy (JAFL, 35, 1922) and by Pound (American Ballads and Songs, 1922)." The title "Creole Girl" appeared in "Folklore from Iowa," by Stout, 1936.
The western version "On the Lake of the Poncho Plains" (in a thread somewhere) was first recorded by Margaret Larkin in "The Singing Cowboy," 1931, and probably is 20th century.
Everyone seems to agree on a 19th century origin for the song, but the chronology is uncertain.
Some authors relate this song to "Lily of the West," but that may be coincidental.