Marysville in Union County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Major General Robert Sprague Beightler

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., 20090503

1. Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Marker (Side A)

Inscription. Side A:
Robert Sprague Beightler was born in 1892 in Marysville. A graduate of Marysville High School, he began his career as a soldier in 1911, when he enlisted as a private in Marysville's guard unit, Company E, Fourth Ohio Infantry Regiment. He served in Mexico from 1916-1917, World War I from 1917-1919, and World War II from 1940-1945. From his stint with the Ohio Infantry, he rose in rank to command the famous 37th Ohio National Guard Buckeye Division as Major General during WWII. Beightler was one of the most successful National Guard Generals and the only National Guard General to lead his troops through both training and combat in WWII. He was with his troops through 700 days of fighting in the South Pacific Theater. Fighting occurred on Bougainville Island and in the islands of New Georgia and the Philippines.
(Continued on other side)

Side B:
(Continued from other side)
At the end of World War II, Major General Robert Beightler was commissioned in the regular army. After processing his troops home, he returned to Ohio in December 1945 with the 37th Ohio National Guard. Beightler also served in international, national, and state leadership roles, including the military Governor for Okinawa, United States War Department General Staff, head of the

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Ohio State Highway Department, and Director and Board member of the Ohio Turnpike Commission. Robert Beightler died in February 1978 and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery. In 1969 and 2007, as a testimonial to his dedication to his country and success in leading the Buckeye Division in combat, the City of Marysville officially recognized his contributions by giving Fifth Street the honorary name “General Beightler Way.”

Erected 2007 by American Legion Post 79, VFW Post 3320, Disabled American Veterans Post 55, City of Marysville, Marysville Uptown Renewal Team, Union County Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 4-80.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Cold • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1978.

Location. 40° 14.175′ N, 83° 22.01′ W. Marker is in Marysville, Ohio, in Union County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (Ohio Route 38) and Fifth Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marysville OH 43040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Till Plains

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., 20090503

2. Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Marker (Side B)

marker: Colonel Noah Orr (within shouting distance of this marker); Marysville Journal-Tribune Clock (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Marysville, Ohio (about 400 feet away); Friendship Garden (about 400 feet away); Cyprian Lee House / Colonel Noah Orr, “Union County Giant” (about 400 feet away); Reuben L. Partridge (about 400 feet away); The Oldest Brick House in Marysville (about 400 feet away); Colonel Herman C. Doellinger Ohio National Guard Armory (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marysville.

Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., 20090503

3. Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Marker

Looking north along Main Street. Marker at far right.

Photo of Major General Robert Sprague Beightler on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., 20090503

4. Photo of Major General Robert Sprague Beightler on Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 1, 2025

5. Major General Robert Sprague Beightler Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,059 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 5. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.