John C. Mason bought more than a quarter of the township, primarily in the northeast corner.

Burbank, came in 1864, built a three-story hotel, surveyed the land and sold most of it off into small parcels.

The Chicago Great Western Railway stretched across the prairie of Waltham Township and the people of the village decided to relocate.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93.0 km2), all land.

13.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Mayville is an unincorporated community on the southern border with Red Rock Township.