Local Book Review:The Waitsburg Family 1858 -1900 The Beginning

One of the first couples I met in Waitsburg was Sandra and Lupe Torres. They owned the building next door to the commercial property I bought in 2015. They owned Nothing New Antiques, one of only a few businesses open on Main when I arrived.

After moving to town in 2004 and looking for a new adventure, the Torres bought and restored their building, including lodging upstairs. They embraced the history of their building and incorporated many of the original features into their remodel.

Sandra continued her interest in the city by researching and writing a history of the families who founded Waitsburg. The Waitsburg Family, 1858 – 1900, The Beginning is full of stories about the men, women, and families who found their way to this productive and beautiful farmland.

Early settlers came from states like Missouri that were affected by the Civil War. Others came from Illinois, Ohio, Canada, England, and the western territories. The first permanent settler was Robert P. Kennedy, who moved from Indiana.

Torres' interest in genealogy and curiosity in her community helped her research the first fifty years of Waitsburg's population growth. The book provides a complete bibliography and index listing the books and articles, census data, death, birth, and marriage records Torres used to create this history. In the dedication, she thanks the Waitsburg Historical Society members for providing photographs and information.

Reading this book, one can see how the current Waitsburg community is connected to settlers from the first fifty years and those who followed. Torres introduces us to postmasters, mayors, and newspaper publishers, including Tom Baker, who was both mayor and publisher of The Times. Every page of this book builds a portrait of the early family connections that make up our town.

Whether a settler from the 1860s, 1930s, or 2004, each Waitsburg resident has helped shape this city. People have relocated here and found a family

This book is available at Ten Ton Coffee, 216 Main St. Waitsburg.