Just had to share with you. Edward and Catharine's son James Hunt who married Mary Tobin is my GrGrGreatGrandfather. I have been working on this family for the past week and came up with exactly the same problems you did. Wish I had read this message board first. The only new tidbit I found that you didn't mention, was an article in The Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois)on 09 Sept 1911 about daughter Anastasia Padgett (Ancestry.com 5 of 18)
Saying she had lost a court case in Denver, Colorado regarding her claim to the estate of the late David H. Padgett. She wanted Mrs. Katherine Padgett whom he married in 1891 removed as administratrix(?) of the estate. So Anna wasn't a widow after all. Bigamy? Nice to see I'm not the only one looking for answers to this mixed up family.