Historical look back over the past 100 years of my life

For The Madera Tribune

Longtime Madera civil engineer Bertram Alfred King spent his formative years in Madera before moving to New Zealand with his third wife, Barbara. King died on Jan. 15, 2021, at 100 years, eight months old. During the last few months of his life, he dictated his story to his wife, which is published in The Madera Tribune. 

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Born May 12, 1920, in the City of Madera, California, USA. at the family Home, on the “Sara Ranch.”

My grandfather was foreman of this ranch. They grew all kinds of fruit, and vegetables, but mostly grapes. They had cows that were milked, and the milk went into the “creamery” at Madera. The ranch was on the outskirts of town, and supplied the town with fresh produce. 

The family originated from Scotland and England. My great grandfather, Dr. James (on my mothers side), was a medical doctor from Scotland. He immigrated to the United States on a sailing ship soon after the Mayfair. He landed in New Hampshire, where the original family home called the James House is. From there, the family moved to the Kansas. I’m not sure of the year. But after this, the family had a calling to help out in California, in medicine.