Yup, dead wrong. How do I know? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYRGafQ7SI Yup, a 1959 episode of Bonanza gives the full account of how the Cartwright clan helped (an oddly mid-40s guy who in no way resembles the actual young Sam Clemens) the young reporter to come up with his pen name. It must be historically accurate because it is a TV western, and they knew a lot more about historical facts then than we do nowadays. Sorry you went through all that effort, Kevin, but Hoss beat you to it! Carl 😀