FACTS:
This Samuel Nuckolls has never been located in any Census
1885 Nebraska State census-No Nuckols
There is not Samuel Nuckols in any census who was born in Scotland
The passenger manifest of the ship that Andrew Carnegie came to America on from Scotland shows no person named Samuel or Nuckols.
There is no Samuel Nuckols born in Scotland who shows up in any US record.
No Nuckols family other than Ezra & Heath Nuckolls family settled in Nebraska.
No Nuckols were found in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania while the Carnegies lived there.
The Morning Herald, Lexington, Kentucky
September 13, 1903
Carnegie’s Boy Chum Caught by Swindlers
Among the Nebraska victims of Daniels & Co,
the New York “bankers” raided a few days ago by the police is
Samuel Nuckolls, of Kenesaw Nebraska, who for old friendship’s
sake, is given a pension of $500 a year by Andrew Carnegie.
Nuckols’ parents brought him from Scotland when he was a little
boy. On the same boat was Andrew Carnegie, at that time also a
small boy. The two children became greatly attached to each
other during the voyage and when the parents of each discovered
they were bound for Pittsburgh, they also became friends. The
boys kept up their friendship after Pittsburg was reached and
during the early years when they both were forced to work hard,
frequently divided salaries with each other when necessary. The
Nuckolls’ decided to come west to seek their fortune, locating
in Nebraska. He homesteaded a quarter section and for many years
prospered. Carnegie remained in the East and in time reached his
present position. But the two men continued their friendship and
kept up a correspondence. Ten years ago the drouths came and
farmers in Western Nebraska met with such reverses that many
lost their all. Among these was Mr Nuckolls, Shortly afterwards,
in writing to Carnegie, Nuckolls told of his loss. Immediately
the steel king arranged to pay his boyhood friend a pension of
$500 per year during the balance of life. It is supposed that
newspaper advertizements induced Mr Nuckolls to invest with
Daniels & Co, Denver News.
One of these unsolvable mysteries!!
The Kansas City Star Sept 6 1903
A Carnegie Pensioner Caught
Andrew Carnegie's sole Nebraska pensioner, Samuel Nuckols of
Kenesaw was caught in the collapse of Daniel & Company, the
alleged get-rich-quick concern, which was raided by the
New York Police some days ago. Nuckols was induced to invest by
advertising matter which he received. Carnegie and Nuckols came
to America on the same boat when boys, and have continued their
friendship ever since. After living near each other in
Pittsburgh for a number of years, Nuckols came to Nebraska and
took up homestead. When in 1892 the crop failed in Nebraska and
there was much suffering, Carnegie remembered his old-time
friend and settled a life pension of $500 a year on him.