 Richmond, who also attended Emory and Henry College before becoming a lawyer, served as Commonwealth Attorney of Scott County 1891-1895, and again 1919-1920, resigning when elected mayor of Gate City in 1920.He was a Republican like Campbell Slemp and his son C. Bascom Slemp, who were both born less than a mile from James B. Richmond and represented the 9th Congressional district in the early 20th century.A Virginia highway marker near Seminary, Virginia recognized all three Congressmen born nearby.