One of the longest running businesses carried on by one family is the drug store known as Fouch and Son Pharmacy in Williams
John Franklin Fouch, born in Knox co., Illinois, Oct, 12, 1856 migrated to Williams in 1879 to visit his brother, Ira Fouch, John had previously worked as an apprentice pharmacist in Martinez and decided to open his own pharmacy in Williams. His father was Albert Fouch, M.D., a general practioner, so John inherited his interest in medicine. John spent a long and useful life serving the community.
In 1881 he married Etta Rose Carner. They raised three children' Arthur, Ralph and Alice. Arthur became a pharmacist and opened Fouch's Drug Store in Maxwell.
Ralph was also a pharmacist and worked with his father and later other family members in the Williams story until his death in 1953
Alice married Herbert Tathbun, who also became a pharmacist to assist in the store.
The third generation produced more pharmacist: Ralph and Florence Wheeler, Fouch's son Franklin, daughter Annette and son-in-law Albert Waring. Albert and Annette still work there till this day assisting on Saturdays.
Of the three children's born to Alice Fouch and Herbert Rathbun, Hazel, Helen and Edwin, only Edwin became a Pharmacist and worked in the drug store.
The Arthur and Pearl Sutten Fouch family lived in Maxwell operation Fouch's Drug Store there until 1960 when it was closed. Their two children were Florence, who became a doctor, and John, another pharmacists. John purchases the Fouch and Son Pharmacy in Williams in 1957 with his wife, Elizabeth Cook Fouch.
The fourth generation joined the business in 1968 when John and Elizabeth took as partners their son Arthur, a pharmacist, and his wife Cathy Jackson Fouch.
Fouch and Son Pharmacy presently operates at the original location on the corner of & 7th and E streets in Williams. It is owned by Arthur Fouch and Julia Davison. Julia Davison is the wife of Frank Davison which is the son of the owners of Davison's Drug store in Colusa. The original building still houses the business, but several remodeling Jobs have changed its appearance.
source: Fouch and Son Pharmacy of Williams 1879-1982 by Elizabeth Fouch
