Chilo Webb Burnham, lifelong attorney in Carrington was born on a farm near Johnstown, Vermont, August 19, 1879. His parents were Frank H. and Emma (Rorabaugh) Burnham who with their two sons immigrated to Dakota Territory in 1883 and homesteaded on the south half of Section 30, Melville Township. Chilo attended the local schools and completed his high school courses at a Minneapolis Academy so he could matriculate at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. He obtained his degree in academic subjects with a year of law schoolwork. He returned to Carrington in 1905 and in 1908 ran for and was elected County Auditor. He took office in 1909 and held the office until 1915.

During this period he studied law at night and in 1913 successfully passed the bar examinations and was admitted to the practice of law. He ran for States Attorney for following year and was elected to succeed Carl B. Craven. He held that office for three terms (1915 - 1920) and was succeeded by James Morris. During these years he had built up a clientele and in 1921 established himself in offices in the new Buchanan Building where he continued his practice of law with his wife as secretary. After James Morris' second term of office expired, Burnham was again elected State Attorney and he continued in this office from 1925 to 1936.

Chilo Burnham was a charter member of the Carrington Kiwanis Club and in 1940 Governor of the Minnesota-Dakota District. He served on the Carrington School Board and was active in the Federated Church. He married on January 29, 1907 Jemima Buchanan, born in 1882 in Scotland, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Buchanan, Sr. They were the parents of three children: Chilo W., Jr. who practiced law with his father for a time and two daughters, Jeannette (Mrs. R. William Westfall) and Lucille (Mrs. Garfield Stafford). He died August 13, 1960 aged 80 and his wife February 9, 1971 aged 89.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 216