Between at least 1875 and about 1887 Asa D. Stewart was manufacturing barrel head machines. He had patented such a machine in 1858 and had likely been manufacturing them since then and perhaps before that time.

Information Sources

• 1866 Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, page 266, lists Asa D. Stewart among the incorporators of the Bennington Water Power Company, established to "build and maintain reservoirs in the towns of Woodford, Stamford and Bennington", "to increase their motive power".
• 1871 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 43, lists Bennington manufacturers and the list does not include Asa D. Stewart or anyone else making barrel head machines.
• 1875 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 92, lists Bennington manufacturers, including "barrel head machines, Asa D. Stewart".
• 1879 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 47, lists Bennington manufacturers, including "barrel head machines, Asa D. Stewart".
• 1880 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 48, lists Bennington manufacturers, including "barrel head machines, Asa D. Stewart".
• 1885 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 46, lists Bennington manufacturers, including "barrel head machines, Asa D. Stewart".
• 1888 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 47, lists Bennington manufacturers, including "barrel head machines, Asa D. Stewart".
• 1889 book History of Bennington County, Vermont, ed. Lewis Cass Aldrich, page 314, lists past fire wardens, including Asa D. Stewart for the years 1855 through 1858. Page 299, in a chapter on the village of Bennington.

  At a very early day there stood a little tannery building on Main street, about opposite the present Free Library Hall....[The original building burned down in 1839 or 1840.] On the site of the ruins was erected the first planing-mill of the village, built by Lyman Harrington, A. P. Lyman and others. This firm also had a cooperage works in connection with their other business, and manufactured powder-mill kegs. The old building still stands, although frequent repairs and enlargements have destroyed its original appearance. The property at length passed into the hands of A. D. Stewart, who ran the planing-mill department and leased the upper part to Sylvester Peelor for the manufacture of sash, blinds and doors. About two years ago Mr. Stewart sold to James Lindley, the present owner. This is now a well-known and prominent building on Main street, and is occupied for several uses.

• 1891 Walton's Vermont Register, Farmers' Almanac, and Business Directory, page 50, lists Bennington manufacturers and the list does not include Asa D. Stewart or anyone else making barrel head machines.