 The bill was modified at least twice in attempts to attain the votes necessary for passage . In the first change , the People 's College was given three months to meet certain conditions for which it would receive the land grant under the 1863 law . The second came from a Methodist faction , which wanted a share of the grant for Genesee College . They agreed to a quid @-@ pro quo donation of $ 25 @,@ 000 from Ezra Cornell in exchange for their support . Cornell insisted the bargain be written into the bill . The bill was signed into law by Governor Reuben E. Fenton on April 27 , 1865 . On July 27 , the People 's College lost its claim to the land grant funds , and the building of Cornell University began . 
