Toni Schlaefli: Your query doesn't say whether you already have knowledge of "Genealogical Notes on the Carpenter Family" (1907) by Seymour D. Carpenter. This history is the most extensive review (that I know of) regarding the Zimmerman Carpenters. If you haven't seen this book, I suggest you find yourself a copy. SDC Passages on pages 71 and 79 refer to a couple of James Carpenters, and also Gabriel and Zachary in the same line. Page 208 begins a final chapter "Gabriel Carpenter, In Memoriam" and reviews a Gabriel who was born in PA Sep 11, 1801, moved with his family in 1852 from Fairfield Cty OH to Cedar Rapids IA. He died in Cedar Rapids March 10, 1881. Services held in the Grace Episcopal Church. (See if they have records!) Although the specific persons cited by SDC may or may not be your actual ancestors, it sounds (to me) like you'll probably find a connection somewhere there. (The Zimmerman Carpenters aren't among my Carpenters at all, and it's been a long time since I read the whole volume, so my memory of details is unclear. But I'm pretty sure these Carpenters permeated much of the midwest, including Iowa.) If the SDC work is unknown or currrently unavailable to you, just say so and I'll be happy to quote a few paragraphs for you in a later post. Robin C.