{geni:about_me} Leopold Kohn-Zerkowitz had the Hebrew name of "Jehuda Aryeh Leib" -- named in honor of his paternal grandfather, meaning "Lion". He was born in Trencin in early 1782, and was known throughout his life as "LeopoldKohn". Upon his father's murder (prior to 1809), rights to his father's residence in Trencin City passed jointly to Leopold and his younger brother Nathan. Later, however, Leopold left Trencin and moved to Bittse (now Bytča, Slovakia), possibly after a falling out with Nathan. Leopold is seen in Bytca in 1809, 1818, 1821, 1828, and 1848 censuses, and is consistently listed as "Kohn".

Although he came from a wealthy family, census records suggest that he died a poor man. He was still alive in 1852, but was deceased by 1856 (when a grandson was named in his honor).

Bittse, Trencin megye, Hungary, 1828:
Kvon, Lebel (household #26)

Bittse, Trencin megye, Hungary, 1848:
Kohn, Lebel, age 67, b. Trencin, "szegeny" (poor) [*actually, age 66]; wife, (Hoffman), Babeth, age 62