All moneys that may be due from any person or persons to any and every laborer, for work done in and about the cutting, peeling, skidding, hauling and driving of saw-logs, the hewing, making, skidding and hauling of square timber, and the peeling, skidding and hauling of bark for a period not exceeding six months prior to the death or assignment for the benefit of creditors of the employer or employers, or to a sale of said saw-logs, square timber or bark upon execution process against said employer or employers, shall be preferred and first paid out of the proceeds of any executor's, administrator's, assignee's, sheriff's or other officer's sale of saw-logs, square timber or bark as the property of the employer or employers: Provided, That when work as aforesaid shall have been done for a contractor or contractors and not for the owner or owners of said saw-logs, square timber or bark, all moneys due as aforesaid shall be preferred and paid to laborers as aforesaid, and any payment or payments so made shall be a good charge against the contractor or contractors in favor of the owner or owners in settlement of their account: And provided further, That not more than two hundred dollars to any one laborer shall be preferred under this act.