Howard Carrow was born on September 30, 1860, in Camden, Kent County, Delaware, to Edward and Margaret Carrow. His ancestors, of Scotch-Irish and English descent, were primarily farmers who had lived in Maryland and Delaware for several generations. After the Civil War, his family moved to Bridgeton, New Jersey, before settling in Camden in 1873.
Educated in both public and private schools, as well as by tutors, Howard Carrow was prepared for college but was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Instead, he pursued a legal career, studying law under Thomas Harned.
On October 16, 1878, Carrow played a key role in founding the Camden chapter of the Young Men's Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.) at the residence of Samuel B. French, located at Cooper Street and Front. He worked alongside George H. Davis, W. Howard Curtiss, Bartram L. Bonsall, and Samuel B. French to establish the organization.
Beyond his professional and educational pursuits, Carrow was passionate about baseball. In 1881, he helped organize a team in Camden with J. K. R. Hewitt and John L. Semple, the latter of whom later became a well-known defense attorney in the city.
Carrow was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in June 1882 and became a counselor in 1885.
He married Emma Bender, daughter of Captain Robert S. Bender, and together they had a son, J. Russell Carrow, born on September 9, 1887. Initially, the Carrow family lived at 515 North 4th Street in Camden, remaining there until at least mid-1888. By 1890, they had moved to a large home at 39 North Maple Avenue in Merchantville. In addition to their son, they had two daughters, Margaret Linda and Helen.
Howard Carrow quickly rose in Camden's legal community and became a significant figure in Democratic Party politics. Recognized for his merit, he was appointed Judge of the District Court of Camden by Governor Leon Abbett in April 1891 for a five-year term — an impressive accomplishment for someone not yet 30 years old. After his tenure on the bench, he resumed his legal practice at 207 Market Street in Camden. In 1894, Governor George T. Werts offered him the position of Camden County Prosecutor, but Carrow declined for business reasons.
He was also highly active in state Democratic politics. His rise was aided by his independence from Gloucester City's powerful political leader, William Thompson, whose influence declined after racetracks were banned in New Jersey. In October 1893, the New Jersey Citizens League considered Carrow as a candidate for State Senator, but Thompson instead secured the nomination for Howard M. Cooper.
Carrow’s political influence continued to grow. In 1894, Governor Werts appointed him to a commission tasked with proposing amendments to the state constitution regarding the judiciary system. That same year, he delivered a speech at a Democratic League meeting and was later named permanent chairman of the New Jersey State Democratic Party Committee on September 26, 1895. By May 7, 1896, he was considered as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which nominated the late Chancellor Alexander T. McGill for governor.
Carrow's political career continued for over a decade. In 1898, he was appointed Member-at-Large of the Democratic State Committee, a role he held until 1912. He also served as a Delegate-at-Large to the 1904 Democratic National Convention. A key moment in his career came in September 1907 when he played a pivotal role in launching Woodrow Wilson's political career, helping Wilson secure the nomination for New Jersey governor. On April 28, 1908, Carrow was named a Delegate-at-Large to the Democratic National Convention and was later appointed to the National Democratic Committee that same year, though he declined re-election in 1912.
New Jersey politics was often contentious, and Carrow found himself at the center of major political shifts. In August 1911, he was instrumental in removing James R. Nugent as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic Party.
Carrow eventually left politics when Governor Woodrow Wilson appointed him Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Camden County. In 1913, he resigned to become a Circuit Court Judge for Atlantic, Burlington, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May Counties.
In addition to his legal and political career, Carrow served on the Board of Directors of the Security Trust Company Bank in Camden, located at 301 Market Street.
Emma Bender Carrow passed away in 1909, and their daughter, Margaret Linda, also died young. Their son, J. Russell Carrow, followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing both law and politics as a Democrat. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in November 1911, the same year his father, Howard Carrow, served as president of the New Jersey Bar Association.
On September 26, 1912, J. Russell Carrow was nominated as a Democratic candidate for the New Jersey State Assembly from Camden, alongside Albert Neutze and Bernard A. Gallagher. They ran against a Republican slate consisting of Isaac Coles, Albert DeUnger, and John B. Kates.
Carrow was elected and served one term in the Assembly. His most notable legislative achievement was introducing the bill that named the violet as New Jersey's state flower.
On June 22, 1913, Howard Carrow married Margaret Helm of Trenton, New Jersey, in a double wedding ceremony, as his son, J. Russell Carrow, also married on the same day.
Howard Carrow passed away at home on Easter Sunday morning, April 16, 1922.
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