Catherine O'Leary

Biography

Catherine O'Leary was an Irish immigrant who made her home in Chicago, running a modest dairy that supplied milk to neighbors and supported her family. She was known among friends for her steady work ethic and the warmth with which she greeted customers.

When a tragic fire swept the city in 1871, rumors unfairly named her as its cause, yet she bore the accusation with quiet dignity; historians have since cleared her name, remembering instead a woman who lived simply and strove to care for those around her.