Yea I don't know where the other sites got their info. I did a lot of research on it and compiled everything I found on my website, but it is temporarily offline. Here is the book from 1902. I go by this. I don't think a "common beer" would be sour. How many people like to throw back a bunch of sour beers after a long day at work? I will admit I started doing and probably helped spread the sour kentucky common beer, although I only wanted a hint of sourness. I've since stopped completely and just do a 90min mash.
Hopefully I don't come across as a douche or anything. Just tryin to help ya out. Hell there isn't much info about it anyway. IMO I think 1lb of Crystal would be a little much, and I don't think the smoked malt fits the style - however I'm not trying to say the recipe is bad in any way. Actually looks pretty good.
If you want we can take this to PM so we don't clutter your recipe thread.
http://books.google.com/books?id=ppYKAAAAMAAJ&ots=S137PCgVTC&dq=american%2 0handy-book%20brewing&pg=PA818#v=onepage&q&f=false