Catherine O'Leary - Death and Aftermath

Death and Aftermath

Catherine O'Leary died on July 3, 1895 of acute pneumonia at her home at 5133 Halsted Street and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In the PBS documentary, Chicago: City of the Century, a descendant of O'Leary stated that she spent the rest of her life in the public eye, in which she was constantly blamed for starting the fire. Overcome with much sadness and regret, she "died heartbroken."

Amateur historian Richard Bales was able to garner enough evidence on Sullivan to convince the Chicago City Council to exonerate O'Leary of all guilt in 1997.