Benjamin Luther Holder was the out of wedlock son of Benjamin Hagood and Sally Holder. Sally Holder was an employee of Benjamin Hagood at a hotel restaurant located atop Caesars Head Mountain.

The relationship between Benjamin Hagood and Benjamin Holder has been a source of speculation for some years. Nowhere in any Hagood family documents, legal or otherwise, does Benjamin Hagood claim or acknowledge paternity for Holder. Benjamin Hagood does leave Holder land and three slaves in his will, but does not name him as one of his children. Benjamin Hagood's sister Rebecca Hagood Hightower also left Benjamin Holder an inheritance upon her death. Benjamin Holder's death certificate lists Benjamin Hagood as his father and his mother as Miss Holder.

Benjamin Holder attended the Greenville Academy as a youngster.

Aug. 31, 1844, at the age of 19, Benjamin is reported to have been dismissed from the rolls of the Secona Baptist Church near Pickens, SC for "disobeying the authority of the church". It is believed that the reason for this dismissal was that he got Sarah Stephens Dillard in a "family way". Sarah gave birth to Sarah "Sallie" A. Dillard 24 Sep 1845. Sallie married George McDuffie Thompson about 1864 in Pickens Co., SC. Sallie died 6 Jul 1875.

Benjamin Holder was restored to fellowship at Secona Baptist Church in June 1853 and was elected a deacon in 1854.

In a letter from "B. Holder" dated April 7, 1915 to George McDuffie's Thompson 's son Rev. Harry McLean THOMPSON, it is believed that tacit kinship was acknowledged and Harry referred to 'B. Holder's' letter as being from his 'grandfather'. Benjamin was known for being a fire and brimstone Baptist preacher whose pulpit career spanned 60 years.

Text of the letter reads:

"I shall have to clain kin to able me to start my letter can't write much too nervous have to write with pencil. I am glad to know you are trying to save souls. 64 years ago I was ordained, 23rd of last March, I ate my 90th birthday dinner. Have 10 living children by first, one by second wife. One beautiful daughter 20 years old. just finished her first school of 5 months for 175 dollars, favors your mother very much. My 10 children have 50 grandchildren. perhaps and not a deficiency in children or grandchildren. thank the Lord, my day are running to a close."

Benjamin was a First Lieutenant in 1st South Carolina Cavalry Regiment, Company F, The Allen Hussars, during the Civil War.

Benjamin's first marriage was to Malinda Effiline Ferguson about 1850. Benjamin and Malinda's Children:
Rebecca E Holder 1854
James Holder 1857 - 1929
Margaret A. Holder Boatwright 1858 - 1930
Annie (Anna) M Holder Davis 1859 - 1939
Jefferson Davis Holder 1861 - 1941
Adaline Addie Holder Davis 1864 - 1940
Benjamin Leander Holder 1867 - 1952
Francis Lola Holder Porter 1869 - 1961
Sarah Sallie Holder 1870 -
Melvin Martin Holder 1872 - 1913
Lillian Lenora Holder Dec 1873 -

Benjamin's second marriage was to Rebecca Frances Kennemer on Feb. 16, 1888. Together they had one child Eva Gertrude Holder Dockins.