Dr. Joseph Mallory gave the name of Joppa to the place, but this was later changed to Onion River after the stream on which it is located. This town eventually became part of Waldo, the post office which had been situated there in Onion River was shifted to Waldo.

From Increase Lapham's 1844 Geographical and Topographical Description of Wisconsin:

"ONION RIVER enters immediately at the Falls [Sheboygan Falls]... has a southerly direction for some distance, to a place noted as the "Salt Licks," and then turns completely around and runs north. Whether these salt licks indicate the existence of salt water or springs in the vicinity, remains to be determined. The rocks found here, and throughout the county, are limestone, similar to that found throughout the eastern portion of the Territory."

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[Source: p. 264 of Buchen's History of Sheboygan county.]