Born on July 15, 1843, in Milton, Indiana,[1] Morrow moved with his parents to Adams County, Illinois, in 1845 and attended the common schools and received private instruction.

[2] He moved to Santa Rosa, California, in 1859 and taught school and explored mining regions.

[2] As a member of Congress, Morrow was "at the forefront of the campaign" to make the federal laws restricting Chinese immigration "more severe.

[1] Morrow received a recess appointment from President Benjamin Harrison on August 11, 1891, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Judge Ogden Hoffman Jr.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Harrison on December 10, 1891.

[1] He was the last appeals court judge who continued to serve in active service appointed by President McKinley.

Morrow married Margaret Hulbert (October 1, 1847 – August 26, 1926), a native of Iowa, on June 18, 1865, in Sonoma, California.