Shepard Cary was a prominent Houlton merchant, legislator, and lumberman. He operated as S. Cary and Co. This receipt, dated May 24, 1850, acknowledges payment in full of $168 to John Henderson for the labor of his sons Luther and John from August 15, 1849 to March 13, 1850.

The payment was made at "Mouth Allaguash," now Allagash, and reflects Cary's practice of paying his men only after the timber was sold. This not only benefited cash flow, but also served to keep his men from jumping camps during the winter harvesting season.