[3] According to Herringshaw (1901), she was at one time the leading successful female publisher in the U.S.[4] Annie Laurie Yuill Johnstone was born in Albany, New York.

This railway guide was published before the folders later supplied by the railroad companies and gave a correct timetable of the different roads, subject to monthly revision.

Though she was offered a permanent position in several offices, the Time booklet, with its advertising advantages, was far more profitable, netting her an income annually of US$7,000 for many years.

When she first began to publish her railway guide, men were not accustomed to having a woman step into their private offices to solicit business, but with finesse, she was granted interviews which usually resulted in obtaining a contract for subscriptions or advertising, and often both.

[3] When the railroads printed their own folders, Orff decided to establish a chaperone bureau for the purpose of supplying female guides to visiting women in the city.

Fashion and domestic affairs, besides a fund of general information on interesting topics, quickly made it a favorite in the family circle and well received by literary critics.

It was issued monthly in the interest of organized and federated women, telling by word and picture the happenings and progress of woman's work throughout the world.

[3] The American Woman's Review had an international subscription list, and an amusing incident in connection with soliciting foreign business occurred when a Japanese person offered to exchange bulbs of a cinnamon vine for an advertisement in her magazine.

Soon, the beautiful foliage of the cinnamon vines, which were hardy and prolific, became a prominent part of the garden decorations of many States, and particularly Missouri.

Orff was appointed representative of women's work in Missouri for the Paris Exposition (1900), receiving her commission from Governor Lawrence Vest Stephens .

Orff sent out letters to women, interesting them in the benefits that would accrue to husbands, fathers, and brothers if all the manufacturers in this city took up her suggestion that an exhibition of their goods be held at a specified time.

[7] She obtained a divorce at a time when there appeared to be doubt as to her first husband's death, so as to avoid laying herself open to bigamy charges.

[3] Notwithstanding the business activity which took Orff from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast many times annually, she was a home-loving woman and her artistic taste asserted itself in the furnishing and adornment of her house.

The dwelling designed by her in St. Louis on Washington Avenue was known as "Fairyland" because of the effective and original system of electric lighting, as well as beautiful works of art in pictures and sculpture.

This was completed in time for the World's Columbian Exposition, and many noted people from foreign countries were entertained there[3] by Orff who was a highly cultured woman, interested in discussions regarding politics, art, and science.

[3] Orff planned to make a home for 2,000 boys on her farm in Missouri, where they could earn money for use in learning any trade or profession for which they felt themselves adapted.

She proposed in connection with this plan to have these boys live in her Locust Street Inn in the city while they were studying in the winter months.