The Winger Legacy: Lives, Love, and Bootlegger Beans
Five generations of family history and tradition connect through stories, names, and recipes. Peery Manford Winger, who worked hard to provide for his family, passed down resilience that shaped those who came after him. Noah Winger, who served in the Civil War, carried a spirit of endurance and sacrifice that still inspires his descendants. In more recent times, little Jolene Ann Moss celebrated with cowboy hats, baked beans, and birthday joy. Even a dish like Bootlegger Beans, hearty and flavored with bacon, molasses, and tradition, carries with it the taste of togetherness, linking the past and present around the family table.
Jolene Ann’s First Year
On a sunny day filled with laughter and cowboy hats, the family gathered to celebrate Jolene Ann’s very first birthday, her “first rodeo.” The house was alive with the sounds of birthday fun as we enjoyed a hearty meal of ribs, potato salad, corn bread, and baked beans. Dressed in our cowboy best, we marked this special milestone with joy and gratitude.
Jolene’s First Rodeo
Jolene’s first year of life was filled with both challenges and triumphs. Born with a cleft lip, she grew strong and healthy, gaining the weight needed for surgery. From the very beginning, we loved her beautiful smile, and after her surgery, she brought us a brand-new one. It took a little while to get used to the change, but her smiles remained just as radiant, each one a gift of happiness.
Her personality shone through from the start. Jolene is a calm, cheerful child who loves to snuggle and play with her toys. She has a playful streak, often teasing and exploring the world around her, filling her home with joy and laughter.
Jolene has brought endless joy and entertainment to the family in her first year of life. Surrounded by love, cowboy cheer, and the warmth of family tradition, her first birthday was a true celebration of her journey and the bright future ahead.
Jolene’s Name
Her name carries deep family meaning, tying together generations of women: Chloe Ann (maternal great-grandmother); Jo Ann (her paternal grandmother); Kara Ann (niece); and me. In this way, Jolene Ann’s name honors her family roots as she begins her own story.
The Life of Perry Manford Winger
Perry Manford Winger (Paternal Great Grandfather) was born June 18, 1876, in Spickard, Missouri. He was the 8th of nine children.
They lived in Missouri, farming. His father, Noah, was a farmer and a horse trader. They were not financially well-off, and they lived in very humble circumstances, but they had love, respect, and consideration for one another.[n]
Preston, Idaho
Perry moved to Preston, Idaho, with his family in 1906. He lived the rest of his life there. He married Chloe Ann Dixon on November 13, 1908, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had 8 children.
He was a good carpenter and built a beautiful home in Preston for his family. The home had all the modern amenities of the time: electricity, running water, and a water heater.[g] The family lived with Joseph Gaily (his brother-in-law) on their farm for a few years while Perry built the home.
He was a farmer as a “sharecropper” for various people and worked for the Preston police department. He was an all-around good man and was well-liked by everyone.[o]
Ancil (paternal grandfather) states, “My father worked on the police department at night. Father was a good carpenter and he built a nice home for the family in Preston on a five-acre farm. The family moved in when I was one year old. The home was equipped with plumbing and electric lights. I remember my father would come home in the morning and I would climb upon his knee while he ate his breakfast. I was four years old when Father died. He died of a ruptured appendix on June 15, 1920.” [f]
Appendicitis
Etta Lydia Dixon, Perry’s sister-in-law, passed away from the Spanish flu on February 2, 1920. Perry took his family to assist her spouse with the 6 young children and farming duties in Banida, ID, in June. While there, Perry felt he had strained his back. As time went on, he became very ill. The family journeyed back to Preston, ID. When they arrived, he had gangrenous appendicitis. He passed away on June 15, 1920. He left behind his wife, Chloe Ann, five months pregnant, and seven young children.
Perry Winger’s Legacy
Lyman Myrl Winger
Lyman Myrl Winger (Paternal Great-Uncle) was the eldest child of Perry Manford Winger. He was an American film industry technician who specialized in the camera and electrical departments during Hollywood’s mid-20th-century studio era. His career took him to Los Angeles, where he contributed behind the scenes on a variety of productions (Mame and The Great Train Robbery).
During filming, he worked with lighting, power, and camera operations to meet the demanding standards. Outside of work, Winger maintained ties to his Idaho roots and his faith in God. He lost his eyesight due to Macular Degeneration and had Parkinson’s disease in his later years.
He was a father to one son, Robert Eli, who was adopted.[d] His first wife passed away on January 11, 1946. [d] He married Jennie Calder Watson on July 2, 1949. He passed away on October 7, 1996, at the age of 86.[e]
Blanche Winger Barrymore
Blanche Winger Barrymore (Paternal Great-Aunt) was a photographer who worked for Pacific Bell. She was beautiful and independent throughout her life. Blanche lost her eyesight due to Macular Degeneration. She passed away on June 22, 2010, in Ketchum, Idaho. Just 2 months shy of her 100th birthday.
She married William “Bill” Barrymore, a Hollywood stuntman and silent-screen white-hat Western movie star. She was the mother of two sons, Douglas William Barrymore (moved to Switzerland) and Richard (Dickie) Barrymore, a major figure in American ski culture, known for his films and writing. His memoir is Breaking Even.
Lloyd Dixon Winger
Lloyd Dixon Winger (Paternal Great-Uncle) was born on April 18, 1914, as a twin. After trying acting, he joined the Navy as a photographer. He worked as an insurance agent following the war. He married Gloria Flo Pugh; her first husband died shortly after their wedding in a plane crash. She attempted suicide upon receiving the telegram.[l] Lloyd had 4 children, the oldest died shortly after birth. Lloyd was killed in an auto accident when he crashed into a logging truck on an icy road. He was suffering from cancer at the time. He passed on December 13, 1991.[k]
Floyd Dixon Winger
Floyd Dixon Winger was born on April 18, 1914, as a twin, was a member of the Sea Bees, a unit of combat engineers in the Navy, during World War II. During the war he was on a Naval construction ship. He was a Battalion carpenter. His first assignment was on a ship going to Alaska. Later, he was transferred to the South Pacific, where he remained until the war ended in 1945. Following the war he utilized this skill to later work behind the scenes on films such as Ben-Hur, Moses, and others.[b] He often stated, “Marilyn Monroe was always late; it is always about her. We would stand around waiting for her during filming.”
He married Clara Luella Ellingson on June 10, 1948, in Los Angeles, California. They were the parents of Gary Ronald Winger, Penny Lee Winger, Beverly Ellingson Winger (died at birth), and Floyd Ellingson Winger. He passed away on June 27, 2011.
Our family visited him in Seal Beach in 1999. We enjoyed dinner at the Old Country Buffet, discussions about working on films, and giving my son a red bow tie. He told my son to wear a bow tie, a sign of dignity, respect, and passion.
Ancil Winger
Ancil Winger (Paternal Grandfather) was the 5th child of Perry Medford Winger. As a baby, he was often placed in a bassinet that hung from the ceiling so the 18-month-old twins would not bother the baby.
He obtained a degree in husbandry. This provided a future to make ice cream for Meadow Gold throughout his entire career. Ancil was well respected for his dedication and hard work. They gave him several promotions, retired as a plant manager in Pocatello.
He had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and was dedicated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his lifeetime he served the church in various leadership positions therefore, providing guidance and direction in their faith.
The father of 3 sons, Keith, Dennis, and Larry. Accordingly met his sweetheart, Florence Bernice Wright, at a church dance, and the rest is history. He passed away on February 22, 2006.[g]
Eldon Dixon Winger
Eldon Dixon Winger (Paternal Great-Uncle) was born April 27, 1917. After the death of his father, he was taken by an aunt to live in Los Angeles. He lived with Aunt Carol and Harmer Cartwright.[a] This was done without Grandma Chloe giving permission. He lived here his entire childhood. He had little contact with his siblings until later in life.[b]
He married Margaret Ann Smith in 1946. He adopted Silvia Ann Winger, Margaret’s daughter. Caroline Margaret Young and Eldon married in 1974. He passed July 31, 1991.
Fae Dixon Winger
Fae Dixon Winger was born on April 17, 1919. She lived in Milton, West Virginia. She had 2 daughters. Annetta Powers died before turning 1 year old. Her faithfulness was as a dedicated member of Bethel Baptist Church. She married Alvin DuWayne John in 1937, and her second husband in 1941 was Roy Vinson Powers. She passed away on October 19, 2004, in Charleston, West Virginia.[h]
Ancil’s Bootleg Beans
Ancil Winger’s Bootleg Beans
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Dry Great Northern beans soaked overnight
- 7 Slices Thick-cut bacon or salt pork chopped
- 1 Medium Onion diced
- 2 Cloves Garlic Minced
- 1 Cup Tomato puree or crushed canned tomatoes
- ½ Cup Brown sugar
- 2 TBSP Apple cider vinegar
- 1 TPS Dry mustard powder
- 1 TSP Black pepper
- 1 TSP Tsp salt
- ½ TSP Smoked paprika
- ¼ Cup Bootleg whiskey optional
Instructions
- Soak the beans overnight, then drain and rinse. Simmer beans until almost soft in a saucepan.
- In a Dutch oven or heavy pot, fry the bacon over medium heat until browned.
- Add onion and garlic; cook until soft and fragrant.
- Stir in soaked beans, tomato puree, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard powder, salt, and spices. Pour enough water to cover the beans by about 1 inch. Add optional whiskey.
- Cover and simmer low and slow for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the sauce thickens. Add water if needed during cooking.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. The flavor deepens as it sits. This is great, made ahead.
Notes
Noah Winger Legacy
Noah Winger (2nd paternal great-grandfather) was born on April 6, 1836, at Cave Springs, Virginia. As a young man, he lived a short time in Charleston, Iowa, where he met his wife, Lavina Catherine Gates. They married on November 13, 1859. He then moved to Missouri, where he raised his family of six boys and three girls.
Civil War
On September 12, 1861, Noah Winger was called to serve in the Civil War as a Private in Captain T. T. Tallis’s Company “I,” 18th Regiment of Missouri Veteran Infantry Volunteers.
Family tradition holds that it was during this enlistment that the “t” was dropped from the surname Wingert, leaving the simpler form Winger that his descendants carry today. The story says his uncles encouraged the change, believing the shorter spelling was easier and perhaps more Americanized during a time of great national conflict.
Service with the 18th Missouri Infantry
The 18th Missouri Infantry was part of the Union’s Western Theater campaigns. The regiment saw heavy marching, long campaigns, and some of the war’s hardest-fought battles:
- Battle of Shiloh (April 1862): One of the war’s bloodiest early battles, where the 18th Missouri endured fierce combat and heavy casualties.
- Officers and staff
- 22 were killed, mortally wounded or missing in action. Many of those missing were taken prisoner
- Of the rank and file,
- 19 were killed, 124 were missing, 60 were wounded, 66 men died of disease
- 28 deserted after the battle[r]
- Officers and staff
- Siege of Corinth (May 1862): The regiment took part in the push to capture this key Confederate rail hub in Mississippi.
- Campaigns in Tennessee and Georgia (1863–64): The regiment marched across the South, fighting in smaller battles, guarding supply lines, and aiding in major offensives.
- Chattanooga Campaign (1863): The regiment was present in the struggle to secure this vital city, which became the Union’s gateway into the Deep South. [q]
Noah served faithfully for three years, enduring the hardships of long marches, poor rations, camp diseases, and the strain of battle. On November 13, 1864, he was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tennessee. A battle-worn soldier returning to civilian life.
Mormon Missionaries
While in Missouri, the Mormon missionaries were proselytizing. The story goes, “About this time, some of Noah’s family, other members of the extended family, and the neighbors had joined together and were going to tar and feather the missionaries and run them out of the county. About a month after, that, these Elders were headed for the ferry over the River Nodaway that Jessie Winger (one of Noah’s sons) ran and stopped at Noah and Lovina Winger’s home again for the night. Before night came, the neighbors came over and said ‘We are going to tar and feather those Mormon Elders tonight and we were wondering if you would help us?’ Grampa Noah said, ‘By golly boys, I’ll sure help you. You see that granary over there, now you come over tonight and I’ll be there with a shotgun and the first @#$#%^% that shows up, I’ll blow his head right off!’ and he meant it. They didn’t come.”[s]
Addie Leora, Noah, and Lovina joined the Mormon church in Missouri. After Addie joined, she came out to Utah. Perry and Joseph Erastus joined while living in Preston, Idaho. None of the rest of the family ever joined.
Preston, Idaho
They came out west about 1906 and settled in Preston, Idaho. In 1907, they bought a small house in Preston. He showed love to his family. They had love in the home. He spent the remainder of his life here. He passed away on May 12, 1913.[s]
Baked Beans History
Baked beans have a surprisingly deep history that ties together Indigenous food traditions, early colonial life, and later American and British cuisine. Here’s an overview:
- Indigenous Roots
- Long before Europeans arrived, Native peoples in North America were cooking beans with maple syrup, venison fat, and bear fat in earthen pots buried in the ground.
- Narragansett, Penobscot, and Iroquois prepared beans with corn and squash—the famous “Three Sisters” combination that provided balanced nutrition
- Colonial Adaptation
- When the Puritans and Pilgrims settled in New England (1600s), they learned bean cookery from Native peoples.
- Colonists replaced maple syrup and fat with molasses and salt pork, both readily available from trade.
- Boston & Molasses
- In the 1700s–1800s, Boston became central to the Triangular Trade: rum, molasses, and enslaved people.
- Molasses (a byproduct of sugar production) became the signature sweetener in baked beans, earning Boston the nickname “Beantown.”
- In 1869, the H. J. Heinz Company (how does Gordon Ramsey feel about Heinz beans?) began selling canned baked beans in the UK. They quickly became a staple, often eaten on toast, a tradition still common today.
- Heinz popularized canned baked beans globally, especially in the UK.
- In the U.S., brands like Bush’s and Campbell’s dominate, with sweet-savory styles. (Facts generated by ChatGPT)
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Food: The Great Connector
Food is the great connector, linking us to our ancestors through recipes, memories, traditions, and love. It evokes the warmth of a grandmother’s kitchen and the comforting aromas of something simmering on the stove, speaking a language older than words. With every bite, we remember who we are and carry those stories forward, nourishing the future with the essence of the past.
A Taste of Family History on Our Lifestyle Blog
Relationships
References
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Harmer Cartwright Census • United States, Census, 1930]. Retrieved August 10, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC8M-SJC?lang=en
- Winger, D. (2025, August 5). Great Grandpa Perry Winger [Oral history recording].
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Adopted]. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/collaborate/KW8G-RPP
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Esther Nicola]. Retrieved August 1, 32025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/LLMB-9ZS
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Lyman Myrl Winger]. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/KWC1-BXD
- Winger, A. (1994). The life story of Ancil Winger: As dictated by Ancil Winger (P. Wolf & T. Wolf, Eds.). Ancil Winger Family.Winger, D. (2025, June 14). Grandpa meets Grandma [Oral history recording]. Ancil Winger
- Winger, D. (2025, June 14). Grandpa meets Grandma [Oral history recording]. Ancil Winger Family Oral History Collection.
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Fae Dixon Winger]. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/9N34-P7P
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Perry Manford Winger Collaboration]. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/collaborate/KWDJ-TRK
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [United States Census, 1950: Los Angeles. Census]. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://tinyurl.com/52ppz6mj
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Lloyd Dixon Winger collaboration]. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/collaborate/KW8N-Z4V
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Gloria Flo Pugh memories]. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KW8N-Z42
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Life of Floyd Dixon Winger Page 2 of 3]. Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KW8R-V1R
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Noah Winger History]. Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://tinyurl.com/mvu8hemn
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Perry Manford Winger Collaborate]. Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/collaborate/KWZ7-S2S
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Etta Lydia Dixon Memories] Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KWCP-QS8
- National Park Service (n.d) [UNION MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS 18th Regiment, Missouri Infantry] Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UMO0018RI&utm_source=chatgpt.com
- The Missouri State Archives (winter/spring 2015) (pg.10, 11) [The Missouri State Where History Begins Special Genealogy Issue] Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Archives/2015_WinterSpring.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). [Noah Winger History] Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KWJQ-XT6
