Almond Fryer settled on the banks of the Upper Iowa River in section 14 of the township in 1855.

The name at the time of surveying was Lodi, but when the township was organized in February 1874 it was called "Belleview," as was the railroad station.

Lodi, Italy, the namesake of the township, is a town in Lombardy made famous by a battle that Napoleon fought there.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.3 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the township was 97.99% White, 1.20% African American, and 0.80% from two or more races.