See quotation, 1834, 1852.
1834. The old woman, by whom we mean—in the manner of speech common to the same class and region—to indicate the spouse of the wayfarer, and mother of the two youths, was busied about the fire, boiling a pot of coffee, and preparing the family repast for the night.—W. G. Simms, ‘Guy Rivers,’ ii. 63 (1837).
1843. “He’s your old man, mam?” Mrs. C. assented.—B. R. Hall (‘Robert Carlton’), ‘The New Purchase,’ i. 62.
1852. She used the term ‘old man’ in a figurative sense, as is the custom of the country [Virginia] in designating the father of a family.—Knick. Mag., xl. 215 (Sept.).
1855. As we were talking about the war, Mrs. —— said, with her clear, ringing voice, “What does your old man think of it?” I answered as well as I could, and am amused at this appellation, purely western, she has given my husband.—Sara Robinson, ‘Kansas,’ p. 138 (1857).
1858. [She] feels that she has a right to spend every cent that “the old man” allows her, and that all she gets out of him is hers to lavish upon her vanities, takes a very low view of her relations to him.—J. G. Holland, ‘Titcomb’s Letters,’ p. 195.
1878. “Old man Bender” became a standing joke.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,’ p. 436.
