Memorials 68 added (7% photographed). Genealogy for Constance M Seppala (Van der Straeten) (1884 - 1969) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. His journey through white-out storms and twice across the unforgiving Norton Sound was by far the most perilous leg of the run. [4][9] When Seppala was two years old, his family moved within Troms county to nearby Skjervy municipality on the island of Skjervya. Dislikes Seppala left Togo, with great sadness, with Ricker to retire in comfort in 1927 (Seppala remembered it as one of the saddest moments in his life. Leonhard Seppala: property of Jonathan Hayes. Club in Canada in 1939 as the 'Siberian Huskie.' Nome, Alaska By the time the war had ended, air transportation was becoming more and more of a reality in even these northern climes and, it seemed, the age of the Sled dog was quickly drawing to a close. also apprenticed in his father's smithy. While certain details have been changed, this is largely what happened, and explains the disproportionate fame that the real-life Balto has enjoyed; beyond the media attention, there were movie deals, a tour, and a statue. remained in St. Jovite through the winter of 1931-32 and competed with I guess you could say Nome was willing to put all their hope into one basket, Seppalas sled basket. In 1925, more than 20 men and their dogs helped rush an emergency package of medicine nearly 675 miles to Nome, Alaska, which faced a deadly outbreak of diphtheria. Inspiration The Salisburys also write that Togo was indeed difficult and mischievous, as well as resistant to being locked up. However, they could only afford a short rest, and set out again at 2 am. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. Shortly after arriving in Alaska, Seppalas boss gave him the opportunity to take a dog team out prospecting. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. He had learnt to wrestle as a boy, virtually as a matter As we investigated the Togo fact vs. fiction, we discovered that a Siberian Husky named Diesel portrayed the adult Togo. He immediately began the trek back across Norton Sound without pausing to rest.The conditions on the return trip were even worse. The following year a team of ten sleddogs was brought to Nome from eastern Leonhard Seppala is considered one of Alaska's first great mushers, and like all who took part in the 1925 serum run from Seward to Nome, he's a local hero. Seppala also won the All Alaska Sweepstakes in 1916 and 1917, before the race was canceled until 1983. Partner(s) Photos by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images and Disney. Leonhards education details are not available at this time. The trail here was exposed and the steep grade grueling for the dogs, who were sleep-deprived and had already raced 260 miles (420km) over the previous 4.5 days. The prestigious Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award is given annually to the Iditarod musher who illustrates outstanding dog care throughout the race. Some later claimed that the Nome Bank bribed Goosak to throw the race so it would not go under. until he completed his "masterpiece" in December 1898, the project None of this is to say that Balto deserved no credit: Kaasens team had to drive through a blinding blizzard, and according to The Cruelest Miles, Baltos senses of smell and touch were what kept the team on the trail. The victory is depicted as a flashback in the movie. . The two 100lb. Seppala continued to import, breed, and train Seppala felt he had abused the dogs' loyalty by putting them in danger of death and injury, and withdrew from the race in shame. While Sepp was on the trail, the Governor of Alaska picked up on the plan but could not trust the fate of those in Nome to a single musher. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Lake Placid, NY, in 1932, which was Seppala's last race in the East. When Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog Togo began the relay to transport diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Togo was 12 years old, which is practically ancient for a sled dog. In the winter of 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria in the remote port of Nome, Alaska, threatened the . The next day a seven-year-old girl was diagnosed and Welch tried to give her expired antitoxin (all that was on hand) in hopes that it would work, but she died several hours later. He said goodbye to Togo and gave the dog to fellow sled dog musher, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. The raven would then land again in the trail just ahead. Onlookers noted that these little dogs seemed as energetic as when they left the starting shoot. When he was a young man his friend Jafet Lindeberg convinced him to come to America due to the gold rush that was going on. under way, Sepp writes: IN 1925 THE CITY OF NOME was threatened by a midwinter diphtheria epidemic. Together with his dog Togo and several other dogs, he was able to brave through snowy weather and tundra to save countless of lives. The little husky had a throat infection as a puppy and required one-on-one . Its worth mentioning that Togos own lineage wasnt too shabby: His father was Suggen, who had led Seppalas team to victory in the 1914 All Alaska Sweepstakes race. and then in the Fairbanks gold fields until his departure from Alaska in Mining Company. Symptoms usually begin two to five days after exposure and include a fever, sore throat and weakness. Leonhard Seppala is considered one of Alaskas first great mushers, and like all who took part in the 1925 serum run from Seward to Nome, hes a local hero. The To his surprise, the dog turned out to be a fast runner and Seppala happily decided to make him a lead dog and name him Togo after admiral Tg Heihachir. placing first, second and fourth. his Siberians for the last time at the Lake Placid Olympic demonstration race. He and his 10 dog team + Togo, the Lead and the HERO ran 264 miles. Seppala's friend Jafet Lindeberg returned home One of the most terrifying moments in the movie is the second crossing of the Norton Sound, on the way back toward Nome with the serum. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPZG-Z2K, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBL-18T, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leonhard_Seppala&oldid=931924516, Nome City Cemetery, Nome, Nome Census Area, Alaska, "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (. "specializing in purebred white blue-eyed Siberians," as he wrote in These three wins made himself and his Siberian Huskies famous. Both are buried in Nome, Alaska. Zodiac Sign: Leonhard Seppala was a Virgo. Thank you! [5][6] He was the eldest child of Isak Isaksen Seppl (born in Sweden of Finnish descent) and Anne Henrikke Henriksdatter. Learn more about Leonhard Seppala at the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum, take a stroll down Front Street, where he won the All Alaska Sweepstakes three times, or reflect on Seppalas contributions as you head into town from the airport on Seppala Drive. IN 1913 SEPPALA'S EMPLOYER Jafet Lindeberg, a mining company operator, 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Leonhard is a "musher" (AKA a dogsled driver) and Togo is his lead dog. Leonhard Seppala was born in Norway. moved to the village of Skjervy two years after his birth. Scotty. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Leonhard Seppala, or " Sepp," as he was called by his friends, received his first team of Siberian Husky imports from his employer to be trained in 1913, a few years after the first import by Goosak and the subsequent import of Siberians by Charles "Fox" Maule Ramsey. [1], The next day, the gale had intensified into a severe blizzard, with blinding snow and winds of at least 65mph (105km/h). However, Seppala does not care and instead is more concerned for Togo's health. He was disruptive to harnessed sled dogs, just as hes shown to be in the film. twenty-three of them spent with the Pioneer company. He responded by telling me that I should not ever have that many dogs on a dry training run because no one could safely handle that many dogs. alongside his sprinting team, keeping pace effortlessly. The Story of Leonhard Seppala The true story behind Togo reveals that the temperature was approximately 30 F with gale force winds making it feel like 85 F. The other half of the meeting is not-so-subtle pressure on Seppala to ride to Nenana to pick up the serum. Seppala and Swedish Lapland Leonhard Seppala, born 1877, would during those days go from being a good musher and just another hard-working blue-collar man to being the most famous dog-team driver in the world. Sled dog racing was a demonstration event at the Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games in 1932, where Seppala earned a silver in the event. He eventually manages to meet up with fellow sledder Henry Ivanoff and retrieve the serum. Place of Burial: Nome, Nome, Alaska, United States. Sound, traveling 340 miles over treacherous sea ice and through blizzard He was by many reasonable accounts, the greatest musher of all time! And Togo has many behavioral issues: Hes magnetically drawn to Seppala, such that he successfully defies any of Seppalas attempts to pen him up or give him up for adoption. his dogs, so unbelievable was the performance of the Siberian dog teams No passable winter roads. Welch and Maynard were present at the equivalent meeting, but Seppala was not present nor very much involved in the decision. Seppala told his father who responded with ridicule for what he perceived was a ridiculous dream. Dead tissue then builds up in the throat or nose, forming a thick, gray coating dubbed a "pseudomembrane". The People of Nome had another idea. Seppala was assigned to train the dogs. Seppala crossed the treacherous sea ice of Norton Sound twice to save time, once out to receive the serum and then again on the way back.. He enjoyed the task from his first run, which he recalled clearly for the rest of his life. Seppala's only childan eight-year-old daughter named Sigridwas also at risk. In 1929 he won the Eastern The real-life Seppala was astounded at the effect of the harness: The 8-month-old Togo went from pesky to serious, and Seppala finally understood what Togo had been wanting all these months: to be a member of the team. In a feat unheard of for an inexperienced puppy, Togo traveled 75 miles on this first day. In the winter of 1924-1925, a diphtheria epidemic was threatening the town of Nome, located on the southern Seward Peninsula on the northwestern coast of Alaska. After the Serum Run, Seppala and some 40 of his dogs toured the "lower 48" with an Eskimo handler. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Yes. Generation. of the Seppala Strain that was finally registered by the Canadian Kennel Seppala continued the trail across Norton Sound. Genealogy profile for Constance M Seppala. Related Article: Togo: History vs. Hollywood Related Videos (2) WATCH How Disney Changed Togo's Ending From Real Life WATCH Togo Movie Trailer Leonhard Seppala Was born 14 Sep 1877 in Skibotn, Troms, Norway. His contribution to Alaska's sled dog racing history, and his pioneering work developing the Siberian Husky bloodline are also well known. At the end of his career, Leonhard Seppala was known as the Big Norwegian although he was only five foot, four inches tall, and 145 pounds. First Name Leonhard #3. died a few years later aged eighty-five. he drove. I have always felt that great men need great challenges in order to shine. Seppala tosses Togo ashore, and the dog somehow manages to tow the floe close enough to the coast to enable the rest of the team to follow. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Each year until 1897 he went to the Finnmark He is a sled dog trainer and racer who is known for carrying the supply of diphtheria serum to the residents of Nome, Alaska. conditions to bring the serum back. The Straggler, as the disease was commonly called, had come for the children of Nome. He was born in Skibotn, Norway, north of the Arctic Circle, in the summer of 1877. For some years in Seattle in his retirement he had a They were survived by their daughter, Sigrid Hanks. Details of Death: Died in the Poland Spring, Maine home of Elizabeth Ricker, a friend of Leonhard Seppala and fellow dog musher and breeder. Seppala traveled a total of 261 miles to save the children of Nome. His family Furious, she left the house and refused to come back. consistently with his Siberian sleddogs until the race was discontinued . of Harry R. Wheeler, the owner of Grey Rocks Inn. when a native with a crosscut saw appeared out of nowhere and trotted easily However, as going around the ice meant slowing the delivery of the serum by a full day, he chose to go across. I wanted to argue my prowess as a dog trainer but one thing I could not argue; I am not Leonhard Seppala. Leonhard Seppalas mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. [17] In 2019, Disney released a movie based on Seppala's feats in the 1925 serum run to Nome, titled Togo and starring Willem Dafoe as Seppala. Dog musher who was one of the men tapped to deliver a vital shipment of diptheria serum over ice-bound roads. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Seppala manages to get his team back to the outpost of Joe Dexter and passes the serum over to his friend Gunnar Kaasen. The only way in, then and now, after the snow flies, is by plane. Seppala tells the story that he won this first race due to the intervention of a raven. After a town meeting, the phone rang at Seppala's home and the dogs in the yard began to howl. sleddogs from Chukotka, Kamschatka and the Kolyma River basin, had been placed (Victory at this race had Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. This was possibly filmed in Chatanika, Alaska. However, the descriptions in The Cruelest Miles suggest more whimsy: The cheerful and diminutive Seppala was also seen as something of a show-off, known to flip double back handsprings just for laughs and land with a somersault. As shown in the movie, Seppala did beat legendary musher Scotty Allen in a race, which marked the beginning of his own celebrity. By plane Furious, she left the house and refused to come back hes to... 'S last race in the film optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain and in! Throat or nose, forming a thick, gray coating dubbed a `` pseudomembrane.! 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