[3] Frazier attended Franklin College, a seminary near Nashville,[1] and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee in 1878.

[2] Described by historian Zella Armstrong as "one of the greatest orators who ever lived in the Volunteer State,"[3] Frazier quickly rose to prominence in Chattanooga political circles.

[2] During the 1900 presidential race, Frazier served as the state's at-large elector for the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan.

[2] In 1902, Frazier was the Democratic nominee for governor in the race to succeed Benton McMillin, who was not seeking reelection.

[2] In the general election, which was marked by low turnout, Frazier won easily with 98,902 votes to 59,007 for Campbell, and 2,193 for Prohibition candidate R. S. Cheves.

[2] Frazier sought to bring a business-like atmosphere to the state government, and demanded every department exercise frugality.

In September, Frazier and Littleton engaged in a series of fierce debates, primarily over the Four Mile Law, which Littleton argued should extend to the entire state, while Frazier, not wanting to further agitate liquor interests, argued that larger cities should remain exempt.

[7] On March 9, 1905, a few weeks after the beginning of Frazier's second term, Senator William B. Bate died, prompting a scramble to fill his vacant seat.

Former Governor Robert Love Taylor had for years campaigned unsuccessfully for a Senate seat, and believed he should be next in line.

The Speaker of the Tennessee Senate, John I. Cox (who had helped engineer Frazier's election), succeeded him as governor.

[1] He campaigned for a second term in 1911, but state Democrats, irritated by the intra-party divisions created by his first election, refused to nominate him.