Nicholas D. Fratt was born in Watervliet, New York, and later moved to Racine, Wisconsin, where he established a meat market and packing business. He spent several years in the Wisconsin State Senate and pursued various political campaigns, including runs for the United States House of Representatives and the Governor of Wisconsin. Fratt co-founded the Racine County Bank and served as its President for fifty years, significantly contributing to the local economy. He also bequeathed land from his farm to the school district, resulting in the establishment of Fratt Elementary School in his honor.

Nicholas D. Fratt's political identity is marked by a unique blend of local economic advocacy and educational philanthropy. His long-standing commitment to local business growth, evidenced by his fifty-year presidency of the Racine County Bank, contrasts with an unexpected support for broader educational reforms, as seen in his donation of land for Fratt Elementary School. This convergence of localized economic interests with broader public welfare initiatives reveals a nuanced approach to regional development.