In 1854 Overton’s father, Larkin Ellison, rented a big ranch northeast of St. Joseph. There was a big school house on the farm, and Overton attended three months summer school there. Overton and William Snoddy, who were very chummy, were given permission by the school master after books were called to bring a pail of water from the spring. Finding a nice little branch near the spring the two made a dam across it. When they did not return, the teacher sent two boys to find them and then the four worked at it making a “swimming’ hole” until two more boys were sent to bring back the tardy ones and at recess they all went back with the pail of water. But the rod of correction was spared because the school teacher was spanking one of his pupils.
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