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the engine house for No. 4 Hose Company, the River wall at Howard Park, the <br />• city Water Works at Leeper Park, and many private residences. They were all <br />politically active and presumably influential. Each of the three served as <br />alderman in the city council for some period prior to their partnership. <br />Robert served on the first Park Commission and Roach also served on the Park <br />Commission. Hoban was city commissioner for six years.(23) <br />The Partnership of Robert, Hoban and Roach was formed in 1895 and quickly <br />became a leading company in the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, and <br />sewers. They also specialized in the setting of boilers and construction of <br />tall chimneys. Their offices and yards were located at 313 .North Emerick <br />Street (Niles Avenue). Martin Hoban's son, Maurice, joined the company which' <br />retained his name after the father's death in 1902. Robert passed away in <br />1912 and henceforth the company was known as Hoban & Roach.(24) <br />Calvert H. Defrees was descended from a pioneer family in St. Joseph <br />• County, his grandfather, Archibald Defrees having migrated from Ohio in 1834. <br />Calvert was born in 1859 and upon reaching maturity entered into the business <br />of producing and installing concrete for sidewalks along with the sale of <br />cement, lime, and masons supplies. The 1922 publication, South Bend World <br />Famed reported the Defrees company to be the oldest mason supply dealer in <br />northern Indiana. He also contracted for the construction of sewers. <br />Defrees was probably responsible for the laying of more miles of brick <br />paving in South Bend than any other agent. Among the locations for which his <br />company was responsible are Vistula Avenue (Lincolnway East), St. Joseph <br />Street, South Main Street, North and South Michigan Streets, Hudson Court, <br />(23) Anderson & Cooley, pp. 262, 263, & 264. <br />(24) Esary, p. 309 & 388 <br />page 10 <br />