Manufacturer of "Red Lion" (紅獅 Hongshi) cigarette brand

The Tobacco Products Corporation was formed in Virginia in 1912, and bought out the interests of M. Melachrino & Co. and the Surbrug Company. It was backed by Henry C. Frick, Bankers Trust director Daniel G. Reid, and Guaranty Trust director John D. Ryan. New York directors were J. Horace Harding (representing Frick); Francis L. Hine, president of the First National Bank; Seward Prosser, president of the Liberty National Bank; Thomas Cochran Jr. [Skull & Bones 1894], Vice President of the Astor Trust Company; Joseph A. Bennett and J. DuPratt White of White & Case; Roberts Walker, also of White & Case and former chairman of the Rock Island Railway. George J. Whelan, head of the United Cigar Stores Company, had a stock interest and was to give the company "the benefit of his experience and advice." (Strong Men Backing New Tobacco Rival. New York Times, Oct. 17, 1912.) Officers were Joseph C. Taylor, president; Leonard B. McKittery [sic], Reuben M. Ellis, and Joseph A. Bennett, vice presidents; Harry B. Watt, treasurer; and Gray Miller, secretary, all of New York except Taylor, who was from Richmond, along with directors J. Randolph Tucker and John B. Lightfoot, Jr. (Frick A Tobacco Man. Washington Post, Oct. 18, 1912.) Reid was elected president. William H. Butler of the Surbrug Company and M. Melachrino of M. Melachrino & Co. were elected vice presidents, and Albert Wiggin a director. They replaced Cochran, Walker and Bennett on the board. (Reid Tobacco President. New York Times, Nov. 1, 1912.) White's law partner, George Bowen Case, was a Bones classmate of Cochran. Reid's business partner in the Rock Island Railroad, William H. Moore, the father of Paul Moore of the Bankers Trust Company, was a large investor. Big Tobacco Rival Gets More Options. New York Times, Sep. 28, 1912.)

Source: http://www.smokershistory.com/TobProds.html