▁end ▁of ▁the ▁nin ete enth ▁century , ▁Simon ▁Laz ard ▁with ▁his ▁brothers ▁in ▁Laz ard ▁F rer es ▁had ▁built ▁high - level ▁financial ▁relationships ▁in ▁business ▁and ▁government ▁within ▁a ▁network ▁en comp ass ing ▁France , ▁England , ▁and ▁the ▁U . S . ▁ ▁Biography ▁ ▁Family ▁ ▁Simon ▁Laz ard ▁was ▁born ▁to ▁a ▁Jewish ▁family ▁on ▁April ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 8 2 8 , ▁in ▁Frauen berg , ▁Mos elle , ▁Lor raine , ▁in ▁n ortheast ▁France . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁El ie ▁Laz ard ▁( 1 7 9 6 - 1 8 3 1 ), ▁a ▁far mer , ▁and ▁Est her ▁( née ▁Ar on , ▁ 1 7 9 8 ▁- 1 8 7 5 ). ▁His ▁father ▁died ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁three , ▁and ▁his ▁mother ▁was ▁rem ar ried ▁to ▁Mo ï se ▁C ahn ▁( 1 7 9 6 - 1 8 7 2 ), ▁also ▁of ▁Frauen berg . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁fifth ▁oldest ▁of ▁the ▁household ’ s ▁eleven ▁children , ▁seven ▁father ed ▁by ▁El ie ▁and ▁four ▁by ▁Mo ï se , ▁a ▁close - kn it ▁family . ▁Note : ▁In ▁early ▁American ▁newsp apers , ▁for ▁the ▁younger ▁half - bro ther ▁and ▁half - s ister ▁C ahn ▁sib lings , ▁the ▁name ▁C ahn ▁Laz ard ▁was ▁sometimes ▁used , ▁recognition ▁of ▁a ▁connection ▁to ▁their ▁elder ▁Laz ard ▁half - s ib lings . ▁That ▁name