The Real History of How Forgottonia Got It's Name
By - Harry Bulkeley
Few folks remember Philo “Five Fingers” Forgottoni, which is the way he wanted it. He was a Flemish flim-flam fellow from Flanders who came to Western Illinois fleeing his futile felonious attempt to corner the ferret market in Frostfree, Florida. Much to his chagrin, the farm folks named their area after him and Forgottonia was born.
That may not have been exactly how it happened, but there are some other names that have been memorialized out here. Specifically, I'm thinking about the names of our counties.
Fulton County was named after Robert Fulton, who is credited with inventing the first commercial steamboat.(Don't tell folks in Bardstown, KY, because they think John Fitch was the real inventor.) But, it was Fulton's name we all learned in grade school, so naming a county for him is an appropriate honor.
What about the other counties? Knox? Warren? McDonough?
Do you think Knox might have been named after the college in Galesburg? Nope. It was actually named after General Henry Knox, a hero that few of us have heard of. Knox was a young officer serving under George Washington when he was given the mission of capturing some British cannons in Fort Ticonderoga. He did that, but then he had to drag 60 tons of cannons and other weapons 300 miles back to Boston, where George was waiting.
He did it despite terrible winter weather and instantly became one of Washington's most trusted members of the inner circle. He served throughout the Revolution and was later appointed as the first U.S. Secretary of War (just like Pete Hegseth). To confuse things further, Knox College might or might not have been named after Henry, depending on whether you're a Presbyterian or Congregationalist. But definitely not James Knox, who helped build Knoxville. Got that?
How about Warren County? Have you heard of General Joseph Warren? Probably not. He was a leader of the Patriots at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Despite being a Major General, he chose to fight with the enlisted men on the front lines and was one of the first people killed. Legend has it that Warren said, “I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood.” He hated the British.
The British REALLY hated him. After the battle, they repeatedly bayoneted him and, according to a British officer, “stuffed his body in a hole.” Two days later, they dug him up and further desecrated his corpse. There was a famous painting entitled "The Death of General Warren," and his name was taken not only in Illinois but counties in several other states
Now for the toughest question- who was McDonough? He was actually Thomas MacDonough, but the "A" in his name got dropped somewhere out here on the prairie. Commander MacDonough led ships that won a major battle in the War of 1812. I'm not sure if we actually won that war, but Tom came out a hero. The land out here was given as a bonus to soldiers who fought in the War of 1812, so it's appropriate that at least one county would be named for a veteran of that war.
Some of the other counties around here have obvious namesakes. Hancock for John Hancock; Henry County for Patrick Henry. Stark County was named for John Stark, who survived the Battle of Bunker Hill. Henderson County, Illinois, was named after Henderson County, Kentucky, which was named after Richard Henderson, an early real estate developer.
Most of those men would be proud to be remembered in the name of a county. Philo “Five Fingers” Forgottoni might not be so happy. Eventually, his creditors caught up with him, and he died in a ferocious ferret fight.