In the spring of 1865, Larkin and Nancy Ellison decided to immigrate to Oregon and on the 16th day of May they started from Atchison with a light wagon and team of fine mares, for the family and two heavy wagons with two yoke of oxen and one of cows which belonged to Overton and had the provisions for six months. They went as far as A.D. Simmons in Grasshopper Township that evening. There they were joined by twelve or fifteen other families and were to start early the next morning, May 17.
That night was a sleepless one for at least some of the party and by morning, it was rumored that there might be an extra passenger as the young man, Overton, and little Miss Anna Simmons were going to be married and that he might take his bride along. But, her parents seemed to want something to say in the matter so inquired of the young man and learned his intensions but altered them somewhat by saying they could have their consent to be married, but not to go to Oregon that day. For if his people got there all right and liked the country he, A.D. Simmons, would sell out the following spring and take them and go too. So Overton decided to stay, but let them take his equipment and the rest started as scheduled.
Overton and Anna were married on Thursday, at high noon, the 25th day of May, 1865 at A.D. Simmons. Uncle Peter Cummings and Miss Hattie Gooding were their attendants. They spent their honeymoon of Friday and Saturday planting corn. His bride and her mother dropped the corn in the cross and Overton and his father-in-law covered it with the hoe.
They spent the season with her folks helping with any work on the farm. The Civil War ended in June and this altered conditions so A.D. Simmons decided not to go to Oregon. Overton, not having anything or anyone to go with, therefore, remained in Kansas and consequently did not see any of his people for 28 years.