Date of Service: 1892-1939
1867: Born on September 27, 1867 in Allen (Wicomico County) Maryland.
1889: Marries Esther E. Hopkins. The couple raises eight children.
1892: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Craighill Lower Front Range Lighthouse (MD). Annual salary – $435.
1892-1893: Serves as Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse (MD). Annual salary – $560.
1900: Occupation listed as Farmer in the U.S. Census. Bounds also serves as U. S. Census Taker.
1907-1914: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Sharps Island Lighthouse (MD). Starting annual salary – $420; ending – $480.
1914-1915: Serves as Keeper at Hooper Island Lighthouse (MD). Resigns for an unknown reason.
1915-1916: Rejoins U.S. Lighthouse Service. Stationed at Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse (MD) as First Assistant.
1916: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse (MD. Second tour.
1916-1922: Serves as Keeper at Hooper Island Lighthouse (MD). Second tour. Starting annual salary – $648; ending – $960.
1922-1924: Serves as Keeper at Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse (MD).
1924-1930: Serves as Keeper at Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse (MD). Second tour.
1927: Esther Bounds passes away.
1930-1936: Serves as Keeper at Love Point Lighthouse (MD). Annual salary – $1,740.
1939: Retires from U.S. Lighthouse Service.
1950: Serves as U.S. Census Taker.
1957: Died on September 1 at age 89 and buried at Allen United Methodist Church Cemetery, Allen, MD. Survived by two sons, six daughters, 17 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.
Keeper Otho Bounds Anecdotes
Keeper Bounds served at seven different light stations during his long (approximately 35 years) career with the US Lighthouse Service. Five of these stations are still standing today. In February 1936, during his tenure at Love Point Lighthouse, Keeper Bounds was evacuated by a group of five men who walked six miles on treacherous ice. The Lighthouse Service was fearful of the lighthouse being carried away when ice floes would endanger the beacon and keeper. Mary Jones, a granddaughter of Keeper Bounds said he was a quiet man and “didn’t do a lot of talking” and loved doing crossword puzzles. It should be noted that Keeper Bounds was a US Census Taker – serving twice – first in 1900 (age 33) and again, 50 years later when he was 83! Keeper Bounds had two sons, six daughters, 17 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.
Sources: Lighthouse Friends – https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=419; Great great-grandson David Pietroski; Chapter data base; Chapter Historian, Jennifer Jones; Historic Ships in Baltimore web site.
