In his childhood, he was adopted by Hanzaemon NAGANAWA living in Ishida Village, Haguri County, Gifu Prefecture (present Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture), whose wife was a sister of SHIMADA's real mother, while he was entrusted to Kauemon KAWASHIMA, SHIMADA's maternal grandfather living in Hino Village, Atsumi County (present Hino, Gifu City) after Hanzaemon's death.
幼いころ、羽栗郡石田村(岐阜県)(現在の岐阜県各務原市)永縄半左衛門の養子となり(養母となる半左衛門の妻と実母とは姉妹にあたる)、半左衛門死後は厚見郡日野村(現岐阜市日野)にいる母方の祖父、川島嘉右衛門に預けられる。