Lydia Killen was born in York County, Pennsylvania.  in 1821 she married George Nighman and soon after moved to Canton, Ohio.

Geiorge, who had been working in his uncle David Halm's brewery in York, started a brewery in Canton, on the bank of Nimishillen Creek.  When George died in 1833, Lydia took over beer making and operated the brewery until her son Thaddeus was old enough to take the reins, in around 1850.

Lydia Killen Nighman died on the 16th of July, 1880.  She was 83 years of age.

Thaddeus Constantine Nighman was born in Canton, Ohio.  His father George was a brewer, but died at age 40 when the child was only two years old.  Thereafter Thaddeus grew up in a brewhouse run by his mother Lydia.  At some point when Thaddeus was old enough to take over he did, and his mom retired from business end of the brewery at least.

Thaddeus ran the brewery until 1865 when it was sold to Kasper Balser.  Coincidentally Kaspar died at age 41.  His wife Louisa took over the business and ran it until 1890.

Thaddeus Nighman died on the 8th of January, 1916 at the age of 84.

George Nighman, an early brewer in Canton, Ohio, died.  He was born in York County, Pennsylvania in 1793.  At an early age, George left home and lived with an uncle in York county Pennsylvania, working in his brewery. While there George met and married his wife, Lydia Killen, 1821 August 26. Soon after they married the couple moved to Ohio and settled near the Nimishillen creek in Stark county.

George worked with an uncle in a brewery in Stark county but left because he felt his uncle was treating him unfairly in business. At the instance of George DeWalt, who backed him financially, George purchased a lot on the corner of 2nd and North Market in Canton and erected a brick building for the purpose of brewing. George attached his residence to the rear of this brewery. Mr. DeWalt was repaid in full not long afterward. The family lived in this residence until George's widow sold the brewery several years after his death.

Kasper (also: Caspar) Balser died at about age 41.