Meet Bluffton’s new year’s baby of 2014. And, as we’ll soon demonstrate, he’s related to nearly everyone in Bluffton and Pandora.

He’ll no doubt graduate from Pandora-Gilboa High School in 2032, and from Bluffton University in 2036. In between, he’ll probably work at Suter’s Produce in the summer and at the Suter Cider Press in the fall.

He is Lincoln David Suter. His 7:52 a.m., Jan. 2, 2014, birth at Bluffton Hospital, proclaimed him as Bluffton’s first baby born this year. At 8 pounds, 11 ounces and 21 inches long, he comes from a long line of Bluffton-Pandora pioneers. To be exact, he can be traced back seven generations to original 1840s Swiss pioneers of this community. Click here for that information.

Lincoln’s parents are Mark and Andrea (Nichols) Suter of Road 4-Q, Pandora. He joins 21-month-old sister Madilyn Rae.

Lincoln’s father, Mark, a P-GHS and Bluffton University grad, teaches computer technology at Pandora-Gilboa. Mark also holds a master’s degree in education technology from Boise State.  Lincoln’s mother, Andrea, a Bath High School and Bowling Green State University grad, teaches special education at Pandora-Gilboa.

Bluffton’s 2014 new year’s baby is named after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, because, as his dad says, “President Lincoln was a man of good deeds.” His middle name, David, comes from Mark’s older brother, Timothy David Suter, who died in August 1997.

Lincoln delivery date was Jan. 9, but his birth became a Cesarean section scheduled birth with Dr. Robert Schutz, handling the delivery. The Suter’s family doctor is Dr. Lance Criblez.

His parents knew that they would have a boy after 20 weeks. “We had his name picked out,” says Andrea. The Icon’s attempt at talking with Lincoln was limited due to his sleep schedule. However, he agreed to be photographed with his parents, while he was sleeping.