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Catherine O'Leary

Catherine O'Leary

Birth
Ireland
Death 3 Jul 1895 (aged 67–68)
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Burial
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Memorial ID 2932 · View Source
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Historical Folk Figure. Owner of the cow that was blamed in the legend for starting the 'Chicago Fire of 1871.' Catherine O’Leary and her husband resided at 137 DeKoven Street, Chicago. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 began in their barn on the night of October 8th while they lay asleep in their home. Her descendants apparently have gone before the Chicago City Board Council and asked them to correct the information about the cause of the fire. They believe the fire was started by a tenant in Mrs. O'Leary's boarding house who was drunk and passed out while smoking. To this day, the exact cause of the fire has never been identified.

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  1. Memorials
  2. Region
  3. North America
  4. USA
  5. Illinois
  6. Cook County
  7. Chicago
  8. Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery
  9. Catherine O'Leary
  • Maintained by: Find A Grave
  • Added: 16 May 1998
  • Find A Grave Memorial 2932
  • Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for Catherine O'Leary (1827–3 Jul 1895), Find A Grave Memorial no. 2932, citing Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .