He came to Port Edwards in 1890 as a guest of John Edwards, Jr., a pioneer lumberman.  A statue of Mr. Edwards stands across from the YMCA in Port Edwards.  Shortly after, L.M. married Mr. Edwards only daughter, Lida, and was invited to join in the management of Edward's vast timber and lumber operations along the Wisconsin River.  Upon John Edward's death in 1891, he became president and general manager of the John Edwards Manufacturing Co., the predecessor of Nekoosa Papers, now Domtar Industries.  He was also active in the top management of four other paper mills, and four wood working companies.

Mr. Alexander never lost his interest in banking and co-founded two local banks and one in Milwaukee.  He also was involved in the creation of three insurance companies.  He was appointed to the Wisconsin State Legislative Committee and helped to create a law that became the Wisconsin Workman's Compensation Act, since copied by states nationwide to provide for the care of those injured while at work.

In the political field, he served as Port Edwards Town Chairman, a member of  the Port Edwards School Board and both a Trustee and Treasurer of the Village of Port Edwards.  In 1912, he was appointed by President Taft to a panel that helped create and organize the US Chamber of Commerce.

As a promoter of education, L.M. Alexander spent 35 years as a trustee of Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and personally funded a gym for that school.  He played a vital role in the promotion and building of the first high schools in both Nekoosa and Port Edwards.  He personally financed the cost of the new and enlarged gym at the old Nekoosa High School (former Alexander Middle School building on First Street).  With his son, John, he purchased the first band uniforms for both the Port Edwards and Nekoosa High Schools.  A library at American University in Washington, D.C., was financed by him and is named in his honor.

An artist, musician, and world traveler, Alexander saw the importance of schools and shared his talents, energy, and financial means in promoting a better educational system.  The city of Nekoosa recognized his business role, his civic endeavors and especially his education achievements, and dedicated their new high school to him when it opened in 1912.  That building became Alexander Middle School when the current Nekoosa High School was opened in 1970, and the Alexander name was carried to the current AMS building when it opened in 1996.