Warren was one of Bezaleel, Jr. and Diadama Waste's ten children. He was born while his parents were living in Hague on Lake George in New York. Sometime after 1809, his family returned to their old home in Windham County, Vermont, setttling in Somerset. Warren's parents eventually moved to Ohio.

The 1820 federal census, Conneaut Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania shows "Warren Waist" and "Charles Waist" living next door to Alexander Gaut. Warren Waist has one male between 16 and 26 years of age, with one person engaged in agriculture. Charles Waist has one male betwen 16 and 26, one female between 16 and 26, with one person engaged in agriculture.

Regarding early Ohio pioneers Warren and Charles Waste and Alexander Gaut: Charles Waste (Charles Waist), born July 3, 1778 in Somerset, Windham Co., Vermont. He went to the State of Ohio when a young man. Charles married Lucinda Gaut in Ohio. He was a civil engineer. Charles was killed in Ohio on Sept. 15, 1821, by the fall of a tree, leaving his wife and one child, who afterwards moved to Whitingham. The widowed Lucinda later married Charles younger brother, Ebenezer Waste, Jr. The 1820 federal census of Conneaut Township, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania recorded Warren Waist and Charles Waist living next door to Alexander Gaut, Lucinda's father.

Warren continued to live in Ohio. He was allegedly a participant in the tarring and feathering of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, see box above. Given the unpopularity of the Mormons in that particular time and place he evidently wasn't prosecuted.

He settled in Willoughby, Ohio. In 1850 Warren and his brother Luke were located in Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio. In 1860 the census listed Warren Waist and his wife Fanny Waist as residents of Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio. Fanny was 3 years older than Warren. She was born in Massachusetts in about 1794. No children were listed. Warren was listed as a farmer.