Mortuary Notice, Baltimore Sun, May 12, 1899: "COL. GEORGE R. GAITHER DEAD. The Well-Known Business Man And Soldier A Victim of Heart Disease. Col. George R. Gaither, whose name for many years has been prominent in business and military circles in Baltimore, died yesterday afternoon at 2:45 o'clock at his residence, 310 Cathedral street. He had been ill about ten days, the cause of his death being heart disease. Colonel Gaither was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He was the oldest son of the lat George R. Gaither, who for years was well known as one of the leading capitalists of the city and was a direct descendant of John Gaither, who settled in Anne Arundel county in 1650. The family has ever since lived in Maryland. Colonel Gaither was born in Baltimore, January 21, 1831, and received his earlier education in the public schools of the city, afterward graduating from the academy at Lawrenceville, N.J. Prior to the civil war he resided at his place in Howard county, which he named 'Bleak House' in honor of Dickens' book, which appeared about that time. Colonel Gaither took an active interest in military affairs, and as a young man formed a cavalry company near Ellicott city, known as the Howard County Dragoons, with himself as captain. In April, 1861, at the time of the riots in Baltimore, Captain Gaither and his company of dragoons came to the city, where they were stationed for several days. When the war broke out Captain Gaither and most of his company went South. He was appointed captain in the First Virginia Cavalry of the Confederate army. He participated in many of the important battles of the war under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee. In August, 1862, he was taken prisoner at the battle of Manassas, but was exchanged in two weeks. With the close of the war he returned to Baltimore and successfully engaged in the cotton business for a number of years. He joined the Fifth Regiment, and in 1870 was elected major, and afterward lieutenant-colonel, commanding the regiment. He resigned from the regiment in 1877, but during the railroad riots took charge of the armory while the regiment was absent. He later became a member of the Fifth Regiment Veteran Corps and was elected its first lieutenant-colonel. Five years ago he was made its colonel, and still held that position at the time of his death. Colonel Gaither was an enthusiastic sportsman and a keen hunter. He frequently took hunting trips through Maryland and Virginia. In 1851 he married Miss Rebecca H. Dorsey, daughter of Col. Charles W. Dorsey, of Howard county, and granddaughter of Gen. Charles Ridgely, of Hampton, a former Governor of Maryland. Mrs. Gaither, with seven children, survives him. They are his eldest daughter, Mrs. Mary R. Norris; George R. Gaither, Jr., attorney general of Maryland; Capt. Charles D. Gaither, United States Volunteers; Dr. A. Bradley Gaither, John D. Gaither, Miss Rebecca D. Gaither and Capt. Ridgely Gaither. The funeral will probably take place tomorrow and will be attended with military honors, the Fifth Regiment Veteran Corps acting as an escort. The interment will be made in Greenmount Cemetery."

According to the Gaither Family Bible, Family Record, page 3, George Riggs Gaither, Junior and wife Rebecca Hanson Dorsey had the following children:
Mary Ridgely Gaither, b. 30 JUN 1852
Henrietta Gaither, b. 4 NOV 1855
George Riggs Gaither 3rd, b. 28 FEB 1858
Charles Dorsey Gaither, b. 27 NOV 1860
Abram Bradley Gaither, b. 18 MAR 1863
John Dorsey Gaither, b. 6 DEC 1865
Thomas Henry Gaither, b. 9 NOV 1867

Also, from the Family Record, page 6:
Hannah, wife of Geo. R. Gaither, Senior died June 27th 1873 aged 73 years 10 months
Geo. R. Gaither, Senior died September 18th 1875 aged 79 years 5 months
George Riggs Gaither, Jr. died May 11th 1899, aged 68 years 3 months
Rebecca Hanson Gaither wife of George Riggs Gaither, Jr. died July 14, 1916 aged 83 years 3 months