Simon Löbl Kohn-Zerkowitz

Simon Kohn-Zerkowitz was born in Zerkowitz, Moravia, and moved with his parents to Mahr. Weisskirchen in the early 1760s. As a young man, he settled in Trebitsch [now Trebic, Czech Republic], near his birthplace, where he married his first wife. He remained there into the 1790s, and was a wealthy merchant in the Trebitsch Jewish community. His name frequently appears as a witness in the birth records of unrelated Jewish children, reflecting his local prominence. He is referred to in most Trebitsch records as "Simon Zerkowitz", but is listed as "Simon Löbl Kohn" in the 1785 birth record of his daughter Rachel. From the mid-1790s through 1805, he is always seen as "Simon Zerkowitz".

In 1803, Simon purchased household #23 (also referred to as #54) in Trebitsch for 3,500 gold pieces. It was a large residence in the center of town, consisting of a spacious entry hall, five bedrooms, a utility room, and two kitchens. This house, built in the latter half of the 17th century, still stands (2014).

As early as 1796, Simon also held rights to Familiant #15 in Trebitsch.

Between circa 1804 and his death in 1817, Simon resided in Brtnice, Moravia while continuing to maintain ownership of household #23 in Trebitsch. As was the case in Trebitsch, Simon Kohn-Zerkowitz also held Familiant status in Brtnice:

Brtnice Familiant Records No. 132-- Simon Zerkowitz Kohn, familiant in Trebitsch, wife, Veronika, dau., Zily, dau., Regina, son, Jacob [twin], b. March 1808, dau., Karolina [twin], b. March 1808

Simon Zerkowitz died in Brtnice on 28 August 1817, age about 63. He was buried in Trebitsch, and his gravestone is still standing. In Hebrew, it states that he was Simon Zerkowitz, died 28 August 1817, with the Hebrew name of "Simeon ha-Kohen", son of "Leib ha-Kohen".

Simon's large residence in Trebitsch was eventually taken over by his only surviving son, Jacob Samuel Zerkowitz (following a petition by Simon's widow Eleonora), and remained in possession of the Zerkowitz family until the mid-1800s.

From "Třebíč Příběhy Židovských Familiantů" by Rudolf Fišer (2012), p. 202: ZERKOWITZ, Simon -- familiant #15 (1796-1819?) V roce 1803 koupil tento zámožný obchodník dům č. p. 54 (L. Pokorného 23) za 3500 zlatých. V hotovosti vyplatil značnou sumu 2500 zlatých.

Translated into English: In 1803, [Simon Zerkowitz] bought the sizeable merchant house No. 54 (household #23) for 3500 pieces of gold. In cash, he paid out the large sum 2,500 gold pieces.