Iivari Leiviskä was a professor of geography and geology at the University of Helsinki, a Finnish reformer, one of the founders of the Academic Karelian Society, a textbook author and a well-known and colorful influence in scientific life. The most important part of his scientific production concerned the theories of the origin of Salpausselkä and the longitudinal ridges of Finland. One of his main works was called "Der Salpausselkä". At the university, he strove to improve the status of the Finnish language and participated in many scientific and language political controversies of the time, both with his presentations and his writings. Leiviskä also became known in schools and homes through his numerous textbooks and popular works.
In 1925, Leiviskä bought a villa in Sysmä's Suopelto for his summer residence. At that time, Suopelto was transported by steamship from Lahti, and summer life mainly revolved around food produced from nearby houses. Only a small dirt road led to Sysmä's church village. Ship traffic was lively and there were enough overnighters in Suopelto's kievari, today's Ilola Inn. When the ship arrived at Suopelto's dock, Iivari was often seen receiving his guests or relatives or simply discussing with travelers and other villa residents. Iivari Leiviskä's spirit still lives strong in Suopelto, where his descendants spend summers already in the fifth generation.