In the 1870s, Hancock, our neighbor in Pulaski County, was a thriving little community. It was formerly known as Iron Summit and had a train station on the St. Louis & Santa Fe Railway. It was located 12 miles from Waynesville, the county seat, and 144 miles from St. Louis. Iron Summit/Hancock was the shipping point for the iron region of Miller County and it also exported produce and livestock.

The nearest bank was located at Rolla (Phelps County) and it had a Western Union telegraph office as well as the Adams Express Company near the railway station.

The population was 75 persons and they had a mail delivery daily. W.F. Burks was the local postmaster--- he also owned a general store and served as the express agent. Other business places included a general store owned by F. M. Denton; Charles Burnell, railroad agent; Dickson & Wheeler, saloon keepers; F. R. Fancher, general storekeeper; W. P. Skaggart owned a Grange Store; Thomas Loague owned a saloon; William E. Wheeler & Son, flour mill owners; and the blacksmiths were Wish and Long.