The township is named for its first permanent settler, Harry N. Sargeant, a Canadian.

The township was organized in 1873 and the Chicago Great Western Railway was built through it in 1887.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.6 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the township was 97.47% White, 0.32% African American, 0.63% Asian, and 1.58% from two or more races.

13.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.