David Allan is the owner and manager of Allan Mills and town councillor. As a miller and distiller he is a leading man in Guelph.  His mill is five stories in height and has its own cooper shop, blacksmith, stone quarry, lime kiln and two farms on York Road which provide cordwood.  Farmers from the surrounding area bring in their grains to be ground into flour and cornmeal. His brothers help: John is the millwright and James is the flour miller.  His son William manages the office.  David lives with his family in the Priory until he retires from milling in 1876.