Grandpa Emil Bilof Cut Buttons in Muscatine

by Janice Warmkessel
(Paris, Illinois)

Hi Kari,

My grandpa Emil Bilof cut buttons in Muscatine. Here is a photo of him beside several button factory workers in front of a pile of cut shells.

My grandpa, Emil Bilof, was born in 1884 in Poland. He was 18 when he came to the USA. He and grandma, Martha Maeglin, met and married in Muscatine on May 28, 1907.

When I look at this photo, I'm guessing that they were not married then. Grandpa is 4th from the right. His shirt appears to be very wrinkled (just out of the wash). Grandma was super neat and clean.

I hope you find this interesting.

Thanks for your interest,
Janice Warmkessel