William J. McRoberts Jr., an Irish immigrant who settled in Cincinnati after surviving the Great Famine, founded the Willow Run Distillery in 1865 near Latonia, Kentucky. Initially working as a drayman transporting bourbon barrels from Kentucky to Ohio, McRoberts utilized his position to aid the Underground Railroad, concealing escaping slaves in empty barrels to ferry them across the Ohio River to freedom. Despite early success, McRoberts faced significant setbacks, including devastating fires at his distilleries in 1867 and 1869, leading to financial hardship and personal tragedy. He passed away in 1876, but his legacy endures through the revival of Willow Run Custom Bourbon in downtown Cincinnati, which honors his contributions to both the bourbon industry and the fight for freedom.