[2] The township was named in 1867 for General Ulysses S. Grant, who soon afterward became the 18th president of the United States.

U.S. Route 31 runs north-south along the eastern border of the township.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 850 people, 325 households, and 249 families residing in the township.

There were 499 housing units at an average density of 10.3 per square mile (4.0/km2).

17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.