Ophelia Stover

journalist, The New Shelby Tribune

Ophelia was born on August 12, 1844, the baby of the Stover family. It didn't occur to her that her given name was unusual until she was in grade school, and the teasing from her classmates prompted her to ask her father why she was named 'Ophelia'. He told her the story of Hamlet, and although she wasn't really sure she liked being named after a mad princess, at least she was a princess, or close enough. She grew used to her unusual name in time, and has become quite proud of it.

A bit of a tomboy as a child, Ophelia was forced to grow up fast at fourteen when her mother died. Birgette's death hit the family hard, and since both of her sisters were either married or preparing to start households of their own, Ophelia was left to take care of things around the house. It was difficult to try to fill her mother's shoes, especially when her brother Duncan ran away from home to join the Union Army. Ophelia didn't quite understand why he felt the need to fight in a war so far from home, but she was terribly proud of her brother's bravery -- until they received word that he'd been killed in battle. When Jed Stover decided to move what was left of his family to New Shelby, it never would have crossed Ophelia's mind to stay behind.

When Ophelia saw an ad in the local newspaper calling for writers, she thought she might just have discovered a way to supplement the family income. She had come by her love of reading and writing honestly; she gathered together several copies of letters she'd written to her sisters back in San Bernadino, each filled with humorous and biting little anecdotes about living in the small town, and took them to Mr. Quinlan Hyde at MacNamara Press herself. Her writing style wasn't ornate, but precise and descriptive, and she felt she'd do well writing daily articles about the town's happenings.

Of course, that meant she'd have to keep her ears open in case something newsworthy happened in town...

MUN: Stacey [contact]

For Ophelia's complete bio, visit her journal HERE.

Articles:

• Monday, June 3, 1867.

Ellwood clan's prodigal son? 

• Wednesday, June 12, 1867.

New Supply Shipment Rejuvenates Town; Bandit Activity Increasing?

In-game timeline for Ophelia:

• June 2, 1867; evening. Nothing beats a lazy Sunday: Helene Ellwood watches the sunset, as Ophelia happens by. [COMPLETE]

• July 5, 1867; early evening. Caught in the rain: Ophelia rushes home from the post office in the rain. [INCOMPLETE - OPEN!]

• September 5, 1867; noon. Founders' Day Festival: Ophelia submerges herself in the town festivites. [INCOMPLETE]