Scapple - haven't heard of it? Probably not, but it's a program developed by the same people who brought us Scrivener, a program for writers. Scapple is helpful for making quick charts. I've used it for cataloguing blog posts, ideas for blogs, research lists, etc. It really has no limitations, other than the user (me). And it's quick and easy to learn.
Here's one I've made because I could never remember all the different family names in Grant County, Wisconsin. Early on I thought we only had one Martin and one Hess family. Over the years, I've found that many of Mrs. Martin's family came from Virginia with her (the Peck family). Another researcher along the way indicated there was another Hess family, possibly related. I think they are right, and I base that only on the fact that my great grandfather Charles Hess sold land to Gottfried (sometimes listed as Christian) Hess. There is a possibility they also were military men, but that requries a bit more research. And what is the weird (?) Pittsburgh connection with the immigrant men to Grant County. Some kind of stopover, apparently. Again, more research!
Here's the chart of my related families for Grant County, Wisconsin. There are more because I haven't added the grandchildren and their spouses. This quick easy reference has been valuable to me for researching.
