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The O'Leary family plot that includes the graves of Catherine and her husband, Patrick O'Leary, is at Mount Olivet Cemetery, pictured on Aug. 30, 2021.
The O’Leary family plot that includes the graves of Catherine and her husband, Patrick O’Leary, is at Mount Olivet Cemetery, pictured on Aug. 30, 2021.
Peggy Knight, a direct descendant to one of the five children of Catherine and Patrick O’Leary of the famed Chicago fire, holds a “not guilty” sign from the 1997 City Council exoneration hearing for her great-great-grandmother outside her Lombard home, Aug. 16, 2021
An 1871 transcript kept by Peggy Knight of the testimony of her great-great-grandmother, Catherine O'Leary, about the origins of the Great Chicago Fire, is pictured on Aug. 16, 2021.
An 1871 transcript kept by Peggy Knight of the testimony of her great-great-grandmother, Catherine O’Leary, about the origins of the Great Chicago Fire, is pictured on Aug. 16, 2021.
A family photo kept by Peggy Knight of her great-grandmother Catherine, one of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary's five children.
A family photo kept by Peggy Knight of her great-grandmother Catherine, one of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary’s five children.
In this photo taken shortly after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the O'Leary house, center, still stands, but only rubble is left of its barn, right.
In this photo taken shortly after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the O’Leary house, center, still stands, but only rubble is left of its barn, right.
The first page of Catherine O'Leary's testimony from a transcript of the inquiry into the cause of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
The first page of Catherine O’Leary’s testimony from a transcript of the inquiry into the cause of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Cindy O'Gara recently found out through a DNA test that she was related to the famous O'Leary family, Aug. 18, 2021.
Cindy O’Gara recently found out through a DNA test that she was related to the famous O’Leary family, Aug. 18, 2021.
A City Council resolution, kept by Peggy Knight, shows the exoneration of her great-great-grandmother Catherine O'Leary and a photo of Knight attending the 1997 hearing with her cousins are pictured on Aug. 16, 2021.
A City Council resolution, kept by Peggy Knight, shows the exoneration of her great-great-grandmother Catherine O’Leary and a photo of Knight attending the 1997 hearing with her cousins are pictured on Aug. 16, 2021.
Nancy Knight Connolly, who has fought for and spoken out about exonerating her great-great-grandmother, Catherine O'Leary, stands on Randolph Street in downtown Chicago on Aug. 27, 2021.
Nancy Knight Connolly, who has fought for and spoken out about exonerating her great-great-grandmother, Catherine O’Leary, stands on Randolph Street in downtown Chicago on Aug. 27, 2021.
A plaque inside the Chicago Fire Academy on DeKoven Street marks the location of the. O'Leary family's barn where the Great Chicago Fire began in 1871.
A plaque inside the Chicago Fire Academy on DeKoven Street marks the location of the. O’Leary family’s barn where the Great Chicago Fire began in 1871.
The O'Leary family plot that includes the graves of Catherine and Patrick O'Leary at Mount Olivet Cemetery is pictured on Aug. 30, 2021.
The O’Leary family plot that includes the graves of Catherine and Patrick O’Leary at Mount Olivet Cemetery is pictured on Aug. 30, 2021.