Born in Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan, to Jacob and Elizabeth Wiest, he had eight siblings.

[2][7] On December 19, 1888, he married Cora Newman of Pontiac, and they had two children: Lucille Wiest and Theodosia Milkton (of Baltimore, Maryland).

[5] The Supreme Court Historical Society wryly noted: He was personally slow to accept changing times.

For instance, while the automobile affected day-to-day life, Wiest retained a personal preference for travel by rail and by horse and carriage.

[C][15] He himself mixed the mortar and laid the brick "for several commodious buildings" to house his 10,000 volume personal library.

He regularly feted a large Ox roast summer dinner, the culmination of which was in 1940 when 1,200 notable guests gathered, including the president of the American Bar Association and prominent members of government and the judiciary.

[6] When he died he was "the Dean of all Michigan jurists in point of service" and the "oldest member of the state's highest tribunal.