Antedating of "cotton-eyed" (Joe) 1875

[Sam Clements]

For "cotton-eyed" we only have HDAS 1905(DN).  "Having the whites of the 
eyes prominent."

Using Proquest APS online, we can find 8 May 1875 Saturday Evening Post, 
p.3

I found a story(fiction) in the Saturday Evening Post from 1875. The 
heroine, a young(18-22), white Southern? female named Dolly is singing 
the song while she helps her Black nursemaid cook. Dolly sings the words 
"Don't you remember a long time ago, I dreamed that I ran away w/ 
Cotton-eyed Joe?" The nursemaid chides Dolly for singing the song, 
knowing that Dolly's mother wouldn't approve of it. Dolly asks "why did 
you teach it to me then?" Later in the story Dolly sings "Oh, I'd have 
been married twelve months ago, if it had not have been for Cotton-eyed 
Joe."

So, who comes to the door but her blue-eyed cousin, Joe. (distant cousin 
 )=20

Later in the story, a character describes Joe as a person with "great 
white eyes."

But, still later in the story, Joe is described again as having BLUE 
eyes.

The story ends as all good Bodice-rippers should. The 
flirtatious/coquettish Dolly finally overcomes her need to play coy and 
says she loves him(when she thinks he's dying). They get married



Sam Clements

If my post seems strange, I'm posting it here first, and now I'm gonna 
post it to Straightdope, where the question was asked.  That's what 
started me looking.

P. S.  I have no doubt that