" It was his custom," says Barrett, in his History of the Town of New Castle, "always to vote, both at general and local elections, and it was usual for him to spend the whole day at the polls when the election was important, discussing public questions with those who would gather about him for that purpose." He retired to his farm toward the close of the presidential canvass, and there, worn out by his exertions and sorely afflicted by the fatal illness of his wife, received the news of his crushing defeat. lie died on the 29th of November, 1872, at the residence of Dr. Choate, several miles distant from his home. The Chappaqua farm ultimately became the property of his daughter, Gabrielle, now the wife of the Rev. F. M. Clendenin, of Westchester. Westchester County gave Greeley 11.112 votes, against 10,223 for General Grant. The advisability of annexing a portion of Westchester County to the City of New York began to receive some consideration many years before the formal annexation movement was inaugurated. As early as 1864 it was proposed to combine the Towns of Morrisania and West Farms under a special city charter, but owing to opposition on the part of land owners in West Farms the idea was abandoned. Morrisania, however, received in that year a village charter, which " conferred upon the trustees nearly all the powers of a city corporation without the incidental expenses; and this act enabled the town authorities topioneer annexation by proceeding to make such improvements in streets and highways as were demanded by an increasing population flowing in from below the Harlem River." About the same time some new cross streets were indicated in the sections adjacent to the Harlem River, and were numbered in continuation of the streets below the river-- a proceeding significant of the general belief in the early upward expansion of the city.