HOWARD CARROW was born in Camden, Kent County, Delaware on September 30, 1860 to Margaret and Edward Carrow. Howard Carrow’s forebears were of Scotch-Irish and English extractions. They were principally farmers and lived in Maryland and Delaware for several generations. Mr. Carrow’s family came to Bridgeton right after the Civil War and resided there until 1873 when they moved to Camden.
Howard Carrow was educated in public and private schools and by tutors. He was prepared for college, but circumstances prevented his going. He studied law in the office of Thomas Harned. On October 16, 1878 at the residence of Samuel B. French, corner of Cooper Street and Front, Howard Carrow helped found the Camden chapter of the Young Men’s Christian Association, better known as the Y.M.C.A, along with George H. Davis, W. Howard Curtiss, Bartram L. Bonsall, Samuel B. French.
While not attending to work and his education Howard Carrow was quite interested in baseball. In 1881 he helped organize a team in Camden with J.K.R. Hewitt and John L. Semple, who later became a noted defense lawyer in Camden. In June of 1882 Howard Carrow was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney. He became a counselor in 1885.
Howard Carrow was first married to Emma Bender, the daughter of Captain Robert S. Bender. A son, J. Russell Carrow was born on September 9, 1887. The Carrows lived at 515 North 4th Street through at least the middle of 1888. By the middle of 1890 the family had moved to Merchantville. The Carrows owned a large home at 39 North Maple Avenue. Besides J. Russell Carrow, the family also included younger daughters Margaret Linda and Helen.
Howard Carrow soon rose in Camden’s legal circles and also as a force in Democrat party politics. On merit he was appointed Judge of the District Court of the city of Camden by Governor Leon Abbett for a five-year term in April of 1891, a remarkable achievement for a man not yet 30 years of age. After leaving the bench, Howard Carrow returned to his law practice in Camden, at 207 Market Street. He was offered the post of Camden County prosecutor by Governor George T. Werts in 1894 but business reasons prompted him to decline.
Howard Carrow was also prominent in local and in particularly state-wide New Jersey Democratic politics. Not being closely allied to Gloucester City’s William Thompson propelled Howard Carrow’s career politically, as he became prominent in the wake of Thompson’s loss of power when racetracks were banned in New Jersey. Carrow was being considered for a run for State Senator by New Jersey’s Citizens League in October of 1893, when Thompson obtained the nomination for Howard M. Cooper.
In 1894 Howard Carrow was named a member of the commission appointed by Governor Werts to suggest amendments to the state constitution respecting the judiciary system. Howard Carrow gave a speech at the meeting of the Democrat League in October of 1894, and was named permanent chairman of the New Jersey State Democrat party committee on September 26, 1895. On May 7, 1896 he was considered as a delegate to the 1896 Democrat National Convention, which nominated the late Chancellor Alexander T. McGill for Governor. In 1898 he was made a Member-at-Large of the Democratic State Committee, where he served until 1912. He attended the national convention as a Delegate-at-Large from New Jersey in 1904.
In September of 1907 he helped launch Woodrow Wilson’s political career by helping Wilson gain the nomination for New Jersey governor. On April 28, 1908 he was named as a Delegate-at-Large to the national Democrat convention. He was made a member of the National Democratic Committee in 1908, but decline re-election in 1912. Politics in New Jersey was often a full-contact sport. In August of 1911 he was central in removal of James R. Nugent as chairman of the state Democrat Party.
Howard Carrow retired from politics to accept an appointment from Governor Wilson as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Camden County. He resigned that position in 1913 to become Circuit Court Judge for Atlantic, Burlington, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May Counties.
Howard Carrow also sat on the Board of Directors of the Security Trust Company bank in Camden, located at 301 Market Street.
Sadly, Emma Bender Carrow passed away in 1909, and daughter Margaret Linda also died young. Son J. Russell Carrow followed his father into the practice of law, and into politics as a Democrat. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in November of 1911. That same year father Howard Carrow served as president of the New Jersey Bar Association.
In September 26, 1912 J. Russell Carrrow was nominated for the State Assembly as a Democrat from Camden along with Albert Neutze and Bernard A. Gallagher. They ran against a Republican slate consisting of Isaac Coles, Albert DeUnger and John B. Kates.
J. Russell Carrow was elected and served one term in the Assembly. His most notable achievement was the introduction of a bill naming the violet as New Jersey’s state flower.
On June 22, 1913 Howard Carrow married Miss Margaret Helm of Trenton, New Jersey. It was double wedding, as his son J. Russell Carrow also took a bride that day.
Howard Carrow passed away at home, on Easter Sunday morning, April 16, 1922.
Related Photos
Related Articles
-
Howard Carrow
In September of 1907 he helped launch Woodrow Wilson’s political career by helping Wilson gain the nomination for New Jersey governor. On April 28, 1908 he was named as a Delegate-at-Large to the national Democrat convention.
Join the discussion!