9.20.04

First row, from left: donors Caroline McLaughlin and Mary Tindal; second row: Erskine President Dr. John L. Carson, John Klugh and Gene Klugh

Family establishes Bradley-Klugh Scholarship at Erskine

A family with roots in Abbeville is establishing a scholarship at Erskine College in recognition and memory of its ancestors.

The donors — Mary Klugh Garner Tindal of Holly Hill, Caroline Bradley Garner McLaughlin of Davidson, N.C., John Bradley Klugh Jr. of Columbia, and James Eugene Klugh of Abbeville — are the owners of a house and lot that will be given to Erskine College after their deaths. The college will then sell the house and property and the proceeds from that sale will establish the Bradley-Klugh Scholarship Program.

The donors will retain use of the home and property for the remainder of their lives.

Robert Wardlaw, one of Abbeville’s earliest residents, who served in the Department of Revenue for the Confederacy, built the house in 1831. The house was constructed with timber from the 100 acres of property on which the house was built. The brick on the house was homemade on the property.

“We wanted to set up a scholarship program to honor our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and other ancestors,” Gene Klugh said. “We also want to recognize our family’s close relationship with Erskine.

The donors are the great-grandchildren of John Edward and Sarah Wideman Bradley, who lived in Abbeville in the Lower Long Cane area. They were members of the Lower Long Cane ARP Church.

Mrs. Bradley, known as Sally, was a member of the second class to graduate from the Due West Female College, receiving her degree in 1862. Mr. Bradley was also an Erskine College student during the very early years of the institution and left Erskine in his senior year to join the Confederate Army. He later received his bachelor’s degree from Erskine.

The Bradleys’ daughter, Frances Caroline Bradley, graduated from Due West Female College in 1884 and married James Coke Klugh, who served South Carolina as a circuit court judge. It was this family that acquired the J.C. Klugh home in Abbeville. Judge and Mrs. Klugh had six children and the descendants of those children eventually became owners of the property being donated to Erskine College.

The children of Judge and Mrs. Klugh in order of their births are as follows: William Bradley Klugh, Margaret Klugh (attended Preparatory School at Erskine College), Katherine Klugh Maultsby (Class of 1912), Mary Klugh Garner (Class of 1913), James Coke Klugh Jr. and John Bradley Klugh.

According to the agreement signed by Erskine President Dr. John L. Carson and the donors, “The donors wish, in the establishment of the scholarship program, to recognize the family’s long-term interest in the value of a quality college education. Such value is not limited to just the acquiring of knowledge in order to pursue a profession, but also a knowledge that enhances the quality of life and brings joy to those who experience this quality.”

The Erskine Board of Trustees will create the scholarship when the first contribution restricted for the scholarship program is received.

The scholarship and financial aid committee will select recipients who have demonstrated high academic achievement in the education, history, Bible or music departments.

The scholarship will be considered primarily a merit-based scholarship, but the agreement said, “A preference shall be given to exceptionally high academically qualified students who also can demonstrate a need for financial assistance. However, financial need is clearly not a requirement.”

The agreement also stipulates that the donors ask the Scholarship and Financial Aid Committee to choose qualified students who have demonstrated a high proficiency in the development of their leadership skills.

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