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

"SHEBOYGAN RIVER rises on the high grounds near the southern extremity of Lake Winnebago, in Fond du Lae county, and running through Sheboygan lake, makes a sudden bend to the north, into Manitowoc county, and then turning to the southeast, enters Lake Michigan near the centre of Sheboygan county. The original Indian name of this river it is almost impossible for any white man to pronounce, (Shawb-wa-way-gun,) and its meaning is, "the river that comes out of the ground." Whether it has any part of its course under the ground, as is often the case in lime stone countries, and as this name would seem to indicate, is not known. It drains about three hundred and eighty square miles of surface. At the crossing of the United States road, about six miles above the mouth, there is a rapid or fall, affording abundance of water power, which is already improved. A town has been commenced here called, "Sheboygan Falls."

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[Source: as above]